Let’s Think in a Collaborative Manner About Overall Development

TO,
Chief Minister of Assam
Dear Sarbananda Sonowalji,
Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam,
Greetings from Nagaland!
At the very onset the NPP Nagaland State would like to congratulate you on various developmental initiatives that you have undertaken throughout the state of Assam since the time you came into power in May 2016. It is indeed encouraging to see the state of Assam progressing under your dynamic leadership.

While so much has been done for the people of Assam by your government, the issue of development of border areas especially the border roads connecting Nagaland with Assam have been lying neglected for several decades which has adversely affected transport and communication between the two states which in turn has also led to the deterioration of economy for both the states as both the states are inter-dependent on each other for economic progress. Dimapur being the hub of commercial activities, is not only the backbone of the economy for the state of Nagaland but also for the neighbouring state of Manipur and the districts of Karbi Anglong, Nagaon, Jorhat and Golaghat. As such it is highly imperative that there should be proper road connectivity between Nagaland and Assam which will ensure greater progress for both the States in general and for the border areas in particular.

It is commendable that work has started on a war footing for the past several months to develop the condition of National Highway – 29 (Numaligarh-Dimapur-Kohima) which is a welcome change as for the last decade this stretch of the Highway was highly neglected whereby we could come across numerous crater sized holes on almost every part of the highway till Lahorijan. This has also led to great deal of economic losses for traders, transporters and also the common people of both the states. Moreover it caused heavy damages to vehicles and a lot of inconvenience to sick people travelling for their treatment.

But sadly enough, for reasons best known, the National Highway-36 (Nagaon- Doboka-Dimapur) and National Highway – 702D (Jorhat-Mariani-Mokokchung) have been lying in utter neglect and in a pathetic condition without any signs of improvement. These particular Highways are strategic ones as they connect many border towns of Nagaland with Assam. However, if you or any of your officials make an on-spot survey of these highways, you would be dismayed to witness huge craters right in the middle of the highways making the life of the commuters a nightmare. Here, you have to take into account hundreds of farmers, artisans and businessmen from both the states who commute using these highways to sell their local and other commercial products. As such, these highways are indeed important economic lifelines for the people residing in all the border areas.

In light of the above, NPP Nagaland State would request the Government of Assam headed by your esteemed leadership to look into the matter of the repair and year-long maintenance of the inter-state Highways on an urgent basis. We, as a party for the development and progress of the entire North East, feels that our states can progress only when we shed aside our petty differences and think in a collaborative manner about the overall development and benefit of the common public.

Dr. Andrew Ahoto Sema
President NPP, Nagaland State