Morung Express News
Kohima | June 1
The Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, currently hearing a Public Interest Litigation (Sou Moto) case on National Highway-2 project, on June 1, has ordered the Authority Engineer to file his affidavit as directed by the Court and be present on the next date of hearing in person.
“On or before the next date, the Authority Engineer shall file his affidavit as directed and be present on the next date in person. In case he is not present, a warrant of arrest will be issued against him,” stated the order issued by the division bench comprising of Justice Songkhupchung Serto and Justice Kakheto Sema, while posting the matter for hearing again on June 6.
Among others, the Bench is currently hearing the PIL in “view of the deplorable condition of the road” on NH-2.
On May 25, the Amicus Curiae of the PIL has reported that the NH-2 stretch from Kigwema to Mao is in a “pitiable condition” while many “potholes are beginning to appear” on works done by the contractor.
Resuming the hearing on June 1, the Bench noted that the Secretary, Union Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways and the Managing Director, National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) had filed a joint affidavit while the State Government respondents as well as the Team Leader also filed affidavits.
“However, we are not looking into this affidavit since we made it very clear in our last order that the Authority Engineer should file the affidavit and be present today in person,” it added, issuing the directive to the Authority Engineer.
On May 25, the Bench had directed all concerned parties to take forward the project by resolving all issues between themselves, keeping in mind the importance of the road to a population of five million people and the fact that three years had passed since the project was initiated.
“Due to unresolved issues, for three years nothing has been done and that has led to the present condition of the road,” it then observed.
Further, the Bench directed the parties to resolve all issues among themselves so that the work can progress and come up with a report on the issues resolved on the next hearing.
In view of the deplorable condition of the road, the Bench reiterated that “all concerned, i.e., the NHIDCL, the Authority Engineer and the Contractor shall do everything under their command to maintain the road so that it is motorable.”
Earlier on May 18, the Bench was informed that the completion of the 19-km stretch of NH-2 from sub-grade to Bituminous Concrete (BC) road would take about 7-8 months.
