Z. Lohe
Having learnt sufficient lessons from SARDP’s 2-lane roads, in June 2014, I shared my apprehension in the media as to what can happen to 4-lane Dimapur-Kohima road as it happened to 4 nos. of 2-lane roads under SARDP in Nagaland. Exactly, the contractors of 4-lane road are now facing the same menace again. The media exposed the involvement of NSCN(IM) in hindering the smooth execution of works on Dimpur-Kohima road as per Morung Express dated 17.6.2017 though the acrimony was reportedly settled between contending parties as published. NSCN(IM)’s Home Minister summoned NCSU and resolved the issue amicably is the evidence that the former was responsible for stalling the ongoing works. The project in question is very dear to Nagaland and any adverse interference in the progress of the works is serious. The ACAUT has rightly reacted and the same concern was shown by NTC.
Nevertheless, had the State Govt. been sincere in the governance, it should not have been the botheration of ACAUT to confront with NSCN (IM. Perhaps, the ACAUT lacks confidence in the State Govt. that even if the matter is referred to the authority it may exude no positive response. Indeed, the State Govt. requires no upbraid, no encouragement or no ‘consultative meeting’ to timely intervene and promptly book any culprit who creates nuisance at the work sites or harass the contractors for nothing except for selfish gain. Such undue interference by NSCN (IM) or by anyone from any organisation including people in authority should neither be spared nor be tolerated by the authority, that is the State Govt. The apathy and the negligence of the bounden duty by the authority is both irritating and disappointing in such matters. This is how no project becomes successful in Nagaland. Be it minor or major project, each is orphaned in Nagaland. The concerned authority only bothers how to get a program funded by GOI. Once sanction is approved and released then the attempt is to build castle in the air and payment made on ground.
When any contractor is forced to pay money to anyone against the ongoing project, the contractor will be compelled to compromise the given specifications as we all know as one cannot afford to make quality road at the cost of his nil profit margin. When so, the 4-lane road when completed will be as ordinary as any other PWD/BRTF road which cannot withstand a monsoon.
People tend to blame NSCN(IM) for committing such excesses against the interest of the common man but the State Govt. is to be blamed squarely since such is their modus operandi of giving leeway to the anti-people elements to jointly extract honey from public projects during the last 15 years. The ineptness, the insensitivity and the complete absence of existence of State Govt. in such situations has made one to construe that the authority has connivance with all type of rogues who are hell bent to hijack the development projects and schemes and see that the people of Nagaland remained suffering from lack of basic amenities.
The 4-lane road project will take few years to complete. Perhaps the recent interference was just the beginning of more of such disturbances in the days to come. Unless the Govt. is ready to deal with such elements with iron hand, Nagaland can never have 4-lane road. As the Assembly election is ringing the door bell, if not other element, the Govt. itself may become the rogue. No surprise.
