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Dimapur, Feb. 14 (EMN): Three civil society organisations namely the Zeliangrong Baudi Nagaland (ZB-N), Nagaland Zeliang People Organisation (NZPO) and the Zeme Council Nagaland (ZCN) have supported the new alignment for construction of NH-129A Peren-Dimapur portion via Mhainamtsi-Lamhai-Dungki-Heningkunglwa-Ngwalwa-Vidima-7th Mile.
In a representation to the deputy chief minister, who is also in-charge of PWD (R&B), the three organisations have sought his intervention and subsequent necessary actions. It pointed out that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway (MoRTH), government of India, had accorded sanction for construction of a 2-lane highway connecting Maram-Peren-Dimapur section of NH-129A (Manipur-Nagaland) following which tendering process was initiated by National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL) and work orders have been issued for some portions of the upcoming 2-lane National Highway.
It however stated that in recent times, there have been objections from some organisations with respect to the new alignment from Mhainamtsi leading to 7th Mile, Chümoukedima.
To bolster its stand for the new alignment, the organisations claimed that the old alignment via Mhainamtsi- Pimla -7th Mile was strongly objected to by the ancestral landowner Lamhai village since 2019 purely on the ground of land dispute with the intruders who claimed the stretch of land to be "No man's land" instead of acknowledging the ancestral landowner.
It added that the Zeliang people shares traditional boundary with Chakhro Angami alone since time immemorial and the same have been documented adding the CSOs of Peren district stood with the ancestral landowners for preservation of its ancestral rights rather than any developments which could hijack its rights.
“We fully support the new alignment of NH-129A via Mhainamtsi-Lamhai-Dungki-Heningkunglwa-Ngwalwa-Vidima-7th Mile. This is the most suitable and appropriate option since there is no dispute with land ownership and any such issues may further delay of road construction,” a representation jointly appended by ZBN president CR Zeliang, president of NZPO Kevipele Iheilung, and ZCN Dr. Tumda Newme stated.
On the contrary, the organisation stated that old alignment proposed by the organisations passes through several villages most of which are illegally established within the disputed area. As the boundary disputes between Peren and Dimapur districts have not been settled till date, it stated that villages within the disputed area claiming to fall under the jurisdiction of Dimapur district were unsubstantiated.
Stating that there was no land dispute between Lamhai-Dungki and Chümoukedima, it stated that until such time the issues are resolved, the possibility of a National Highway passing through the said area would be unfeasible and unviable with strong reason.
In light of the above, the organisations requested the popular state government to go ahead with the new alignment of NH-129A Peren-Dimapur portion via Mhainamtsi-Lamhai-Dungki-Heningkunglwa-Ngwalwa-Vidima-7th Mile, which would not touch any land dispute area. It further assured unflinching support and cooperation till the completion of the project.