Dimapur, November 24 (MExN): The Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) conducted a joint inspection to the eight allocated work sites at Baghty Division, Wokha on November 15, and followed up the inspection of Niuland-Hovekhu stretch linking Old Ralan area of Baghty division, Wokha on November 22.
The team consisted of 13 Tribes representatives which includes the Lotha Hoho, Lotha Lower Range Public Organisation (LLRPO), Yanmhon Area Public Organisation (YAPO), contractor firms of 7 projects, the Aggrieved Foothills Forum of Bhandari & Changpang Area and the department representative.
In a press update, the NFHRCC has stated that three project works (Land Upgradations) in Baghty division, under M/S JK Constructions and M/S Chabou & Co, was “far from satisfactory,” adding that only about 15% of work has been completed.
Likewise, it pointed out that ‘the working contract the firms had signed with the Concerned Department is 12 months, which will be completing on December 18.’ It claimed that none of the 156 Hume pipe culvert, 5 major slab culverts, several numbers of retaining walls and protection walls were completed.
It informed that subsequent joint inspection was done at Dimapur Division’s Niuland- Hovekhu stretch linking Old Ralan area of Baghty division on November 22, where they found the workmanship of M/S N.Chiso & Sons at the work including Galvanized Double Land Steel structure over River Dadi to be “’progressing well” and expected to be completed within the stipulated time period up till December.
At the same time, the committee informed that two resolutions were unanimously resolved and adopted which states ‘no foothills road construction within the Lotha Jurisdiction of Wokha district without the knowledge and Consent of NFHRCC; and to continue the ongoing 2 Lane Foothills Road under SASCI Loan scheme, urging upon the competent authority to issue the 2 Phase work order under SASCI in all the remaining sectors at the earliest.’
Furthermore, the committee urged the minister for PWD, Roads and Bridges, to immediately impress upon the lackluster contractor firms to fulfill the contract agreement signed as per the timeline, and to provide the Steel Galvanized bridge materials to the contract firms applying the same yardstick of inclusiveness & transparency to all sectors at the earliest.
It called upon the government to meticulously sort-out the alignments as per the joint survey done along with the Committee in 2013 at Serika-Khumjoyan sector with Wokha Division of Forest & Environment Department, Government of Nagaland, and to resolve with the Department of Power, Government of Nagaland in regard to the High voltage Transmission Tower structures along the foothills road between Pangtong-Merapani stretch at Baghty Division.
It has also asked the government to direct the contractor firm at Rengamapani Hovekhu Road Jn connectivity foothills road M/S T.ALBERT ANGAMI & CO to rectify the damaged portions at several points within the completed works, and to complete the DPR on Phase II as per the alignments resolved with the Committee, the tribal HoHos and the affected landowners in all the remaining sectors in order to continue with the Foothills road construction activities without further delay.
The committee further called upon the concerned Minister of NPWD, Road & Bridges and the local MLA of 40 Bhandari A/C to immediately undertake inspection visit, particularly the Baghty Division Sectors, in order to reassure public confidence on transparency and workmanship and complete the People’s road at the stipulated work structures on time as per the DPR and work agreement signed between the Contractor firms and the concerned department with clear consciousness.
