Several organizations and individuals have come out with a write-up against the state governments’ decision to take over the BRO’s NH 155. I appreciate their opinion as it is basically for the welfare of the people. Supplementary to that, I would also like to give my opinion in this regard and want to let the rest of the Nagas know the prevailing condition of the people living in Kiphire District.
Hats off to the Border Road Organization for it is the only organization that shapely developed the road communication in the entire Nagaland. Despite their attempt to create and connect the people through better road communication, they must be going through a regretful feeling due to inconveniences caused by frequent road blockade, both man-made and natural disaster.
Nagaland is a hilly state and disaster prone zone, hence well-planned precautionary measures should be adopted everywhere because occurrence of disaster is not predictable. Sufficient manpower is required round the clock to do away with the hazardous affect that may hit any time.
A couple of months ago, almost all the road connectivity had been cut off by landslide thereby journey became uncertain, particularly in the eastern part of the state. The worse affected district by this disaster is Kiphire as the landslide that occurred in several locations had made it completely isolated from the rest of the district. It has been almost a month that no transportations is available, essential commodities coming from Dimapur and Kohima have been stopped and goods stored in the godown have now dried up, medicines are not available for ailing patients, government official works have been paralyzed, student studying in other parts of the state were badly affected due to lack of communication.
A look into the prevailing market situation gives a brow-raising picture. Prices of all commodities that are left in the shops are exorbitantly charged. To cite an example, even the price of tomato and chilly which are hardly available in the market have gone up to Rs. 80 per Kg. it may be mention that all these goods are coming from Dimapur via Zenheboto route. Travelers have to pay a sumo fare amounting to Rs. 500 and Rs. 600 to reach Kohima and Dimapur respectively. The people are helplessly continuing to face the consequences, however, no action has been taken and no sign of clearing the road is visible so far. In view of all these unfavourable sequence beginning with the road blockade, the public of Kiphire voiced out for revocation of the governments’ decision to take over the NH 155 and appealed for immediate clearing of road.
With the governments’ decision to take over the NH 155, from BRO, the public of Kiphire were taken by surprise to learn such a move as it had been done against the will of the people. A clear realization here is that, the government had kept the people in the dark all along regarding their decision and this disaster happened as an eye opener for the people. As a matter of fact, the developmental activity, especially in the road communication, carried out by the Nagaland Public Work Department is obvious for which people graded it “Dissatisfactory”. The state government is supposed to accord top priority on road communication and have envisioned developing Nagaland as a trade corridor to the East Asia. The state government might have taken a wise decision on the matter of taking over of NH 155 from BRO but must also ensure that positive result comes out as decided wisely.
Tsointhe Sangtam,
Former General Secretary,
United Sangtam Students’ Conference, Kiphire.
