Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 8
Dimapur | March 8
The issue of ‘contract’ was at the core of yet another meeting of the Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC). Following the hullabaloo over allegation of favouritism, another has come to the fore.
According to a startling disclosure made at a routine meeting of the NFHRCC on March 8, P Imty Ao (Contractor in charge of Wokha Sector), of Trident Enterprises, recieved a proposal from representatives of the 1st Class Contractors Union, Wokha to sublet the latter around 27-kilometre stretch in the Wokha Sector. This was informed by representatives of the Union in today’s meeting, who were accompanied by a member of the Lotha Hoho, Kohima, to act as a mediator.
It was stated that the Wokha contractors had personally approached P Imty Ao, early on Saturday morning, and was asked to enter into a contractual agreement declaring his assent. However, Imty Ao declined to sign any agreement without the prior consent of the NFHRCC. The Wokha contractors were thus asked to approach the NFHRCC, the representatives said. The portion of road in question falls between Governor’s Camp and Changpang. Furthermore, it was informed that the 1st Class Contractors Union, Wokha had taken over the reins in the said sector on March 7.
This revelation caught the NFHRCC off-guard, resulting in a five-hour long debate. The Wokha contractors’ bid was however not accepted by the house; while it was resolved that Imty Ao should immediately resume work “in order to avoid the debarment of contract bill in view of the agreement dated 18 January 2014.” It further resolved that work started by the 1st Class Contractors Union, Wokha on March 7 at the Governor’s Camp-Changpang sector be immediately stopped. To hammer out the differences emerging from the latest contract bid, a joint meeting of the NFHRCC, 1st Class Contractors Union, Wokha and P. Imty Ao will be held soon, the NFHRCC informed.
The NFHRCC further acknowledged the visit of the Road and Bridges Minister and the PWD (R & B) to the Foothill road construction sites on March 6 at Longtho (Mokokchung) and Wokha sectors.
