TR Zeliang during the review meeting with officials of the
NHIDCL and others in Kohima.
DIMAPUR — Deputy
Chief Minister TR Zeliang, who is also minister in charge of Planning and
Transformation and National Highway, on Monday held a meeting with officials of
the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) in
Kohima, to review and discuss issues related to the projects executed by the
NHIDCL in Nagaland.
According to an update from the deputy CMO, the deputy
commissioners of Chümoukedima, Phek and Meluri, ADC Jalukie representing DC
office Peren, and revenue officer from DC office Kohima, were also in
attendance.
A total of 19 issues on various stretches of road were
flagged and discussed in detail for resolution. Out of the 19 issues discussed,
15 were related to land acquisition for which the deputy chief minister
directed the respective district administration to immediately resolve the
issues within the month of February and submit action taken report.
“This is important as working season will soon be over with
early onset of monsoon in the region,” it stated.
Zeliang asked the district administration to seek the
assistance of the GBs and village council chairmen, wherever required, to
expedite resolution of land acquisition issues.
He also noted the unsatisfactory slope protection measures
on the Dimapur-Kohima 4-lane road.
“In this regard, the contractor M/s Maccaferri brought to
attention that there are some issues related to RoW as NHIDCL office do not
have the record of the initial RoW issued back in 2013-14,” it stated.
In response, the deputy chief minister directed the NHIDCL
to get in touch with the NHAI office and find the record as it was NHAI who
initially carried out the land acquisition prior to the coming of NHIDCL in the
state.
In cases where damage compensation has been paid and received
by land owners but not allowing contractors to carry out work with one or the
other reason, the deputy chief minister directed the district administration to
give “one final notice for evacuation and demolition by themselves.”
“And upon expiry of the notice period, to use whatever means
possible to demolish the structures and give a clear RoW to the contractors to
carry out the work.”
In addition, Zeliang also noted that the “majority of the
people cannot be made to suffer due to vested interest of few, as good road
connectivity is the most important sector for state to grow in all aspects.”
The road projects discussed in the meeting included
Peren-Dimapur (Pkg. II and V), Dimapur-Kohima (Pkg. I, II and III), Kohima
Bypass (Pkg. I, II, III and IV), Kohima-Jessami (Pkg. II, III, IV and V),
Akhegwo to Avangkhu (Pkg. I and II).
Further, Zeliang asked the EDKohima to coordinate with his office and
finalise the tour programme of the National Highways under NHIDCL at the
earliest.
