Dimapur, Sep. 28 (EMN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has assured the people of Wakching area that the National Highway, Merangkong-Tamlu-Mon road in the area, will be constructed as per the standard guidelines of the National Highway Authority of India and requested the people for their wholehearted cooperation.
The chief minister, who was in Mon along with his cabinet colleagues, held a meeting with Wakching area village councils, Konyak Union members and district administration of Sep. 27 at the conference hall of DC office, Mon to discuss the proposed alignment of National Highways (SARD-NE) Merangkong-Tamlu-Mon road in Wakching area.
Rio, while underscoring the importance of Thursday’s meeting said that it will change the dynamics of Mon district. However, he lamented the problems of land for development and the practice of subletting contracts to local contractors which compromises the quality of the output. He also said that the interference of the elected members in diverting the roads through their village and constituencies as detrimental to the larger interest of the people.
Therefore, the chief minister, while underscoring the importance of roads, said that it was up to the decision of the public whether to have good roads or not. He hoped that the public decide to ‘wholeheartedly cooperate with the government and implementing agencies.’
Rio also assured that the road will be constructed as per the standard guidelines of the National Highway Authority of India, but requested the people of the area to take a decision as to whether they will fully cooperate or forfeit the National Highway project in their area.
Furthermore, the chief minister also asked the people not to insist upon undue preconditions for the National Highway constructions as it would set bad precedence. Nonetheless, the CM said in principle the government is accepting the decision which was taken onFriday honouring the national highway rules and public interest on road at Wakching area and to this he gave one week time frame to take decision and submit it in written to the government.
Rio also expressed his gratitude to the free land donors for the trans-national highway (foothill road). Also, he informed that the Dimapur-Tizit rail line construction will resume after obtaining the required land from the owners for free. He requested the people to expedite the same.
During the meeting, public leaders from Wakching area, president KU and former Konyak legislators expressed their reservation on the proposed diversion of the road away from Wakching town and questioned the reduction of the length of the road originally from 100 km to 86.6 km. To this, the general manager of NHIDCL clarified that it was necessitated as per the technical guidelines/requirements of the National Highway standards whereby avoiding sharp curves and resorting to diversions results in the shortening of the distance to 86.6 km. He further clarified that it was not a case of fund shortage and that the road to Wakching town was not being abandoned; instead, “a onetime maintenance and rehabilitation grant for the existing road was proposed and requested the people of the area’s cooperation and support for the successful completion of the project.”
The CM was accompanied by ministers Pangnyu Phom, Paiwang Konyak, Tongpang Ozukum, Noke Wangnao; advisors Pohwang Konyak, Bongkhao Konyak and Chingwang Konyak; president of NDPP and chairman of PDA; and government officials. The general manager along with the officials of NHIDCL also attended the meeting.
