The road transport infrastructure development is the ‘mother’ of all economic developmental activities. For, it is through accessibility that availability can be made possible, which can further lead to affordability. Indeed, the importance of road transport communication cannot be overemphasized. Such matters of importance for a land lock State like ours having being rightfully portrayed by the Nagaland Government to the Government of India, the NHAI under the MORTH has envision to create and connect by increasing the mobility and efficiency through such schemes as that of Special Accelerated Road Development Programme (SARDP). The very word of the Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh who said “we must remember that these are public projects where public interest must be foremost in our mind and it is necessary to demonstrate that the award, construction and operation of these projects is based on a fair and transparent approach which eliminates any suspicion of favouritism or what might be described as crony capitalism”. Unfortunately, the very essence of what he meant appears to be in total contradiction to the way in which the contract of SARDP for the earmarked road projects in Nagaland was awarded to the so called ‘Global Firms’. It can be easily concluded from the elaborate statement of the Nagaland Government Registered Class–I Contractors Union (NGRC-ICU) that these ‘Global Firms’ are driven purely by a ‘Commission Motive’ rather than that of executing the project with sincerity and responsibility. They only appear to be playing with our ignorance and gullibility exhibiting hostile and exploitative attitude. Worse still is that the ‘Global Firms’ who can change their colours (SATYAM TO MAYTAS) and are apparently ’black listed’ in the state of Assam and Andhra Pradesh can dare to belittle and mistreat our own local contractors. The ‘Global Firms’ do not realized that the local contractors with meager funding (never ever above 21.47% of the Nagaland PWD Schedule of Rate 2010) have been maintaining a road length of 10130 km in Nagaland for all these years.
In the event of such challenges we must make the rightful responses. One of which could be of our own Chief Minister Mr. Neiphiu Rio’s concerned for quality control who have said “an asset created without quality is not a real asset, it is rather a liability like an invalid child whose problems multiply when it grows”.
The NGRC-ICU must be fully appreciated for bringing us to awareness about such grievous issues which can have devastating effect for our people. After all, these roads are going to be our life lines.
In the event of such challenges we must make the rightful responses. One of which could be of our own Chief Minister Mr. Neiphiu Rio’s concerned for quality control who have said “an asset created without quality is not a real asset, it is rather a liability like an invalid child whose problems multiply when it grows”.
The NGRC-ICU must be fully appreciated for bringing us to awareness about such grievous issues which can have devastating effect for our people. After all, these roads are going to be our life lines.
Dr. P. Ngully
Jail Colony, Kohima.
