Delay in construction of breast wall along NH-61 in Nagaland poses threat to residents

Our Correspondent

Wokha, May 21 (EMN): The delay in construction of breast wall on a stretch of road from km 72.40 to km 83.00 along NH-61 (New NH-02), where widening and cutting had been done for the ongoing two-lane project, has put the lives of people living in the area at risk.

A house located on the stretch of road is said to have been abandoned due to the threat caused by a mudslide, while many are living on the edge as rain could trigger landslides and damage their homes and endanger their lives as well.  

T Lankonsen Tsanglao, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Wokha, told Eastern Mirror that a consultative meeting was held with the officials of National Highway Kohima Division, the concerned contractor, Superintendent Engineer and other officials at the DC office after the Wokha district administration served a notice, stating about the need to construct breast wall along the stretch of road.

During the meeting, the contractor had given a verbal assurance to take action accordingly on landslide-prone areas in a phased manner and speed up the construction work to address the impending issue, it was informed.

The district administration is also said to be constantly monitoring the release of compensation and assessing damages for further action. It was also informed that the construction of the two-lane road is ongoing and houses in the area have to be dismantled in order to build breast wall.

It may be mentioned the Wokha district administration had last month served a notice to the Executive Engineer of PWD (NH) Kohima Division through the ADC in connection with the ongoing two-lane road construction project along the stretch from km 72.40 to km 83.00 of NH-61 (New NH-02), informing about some areas where the initial road cutting had been completed but yet to take up construction of breast wall in the built-up areas.

The district administration had expressed concern, saying that it could lead to collateral damage to the existing structures as many residential buildings and properties/structures are exposed and susceptible to landslides.

It also informed the concerned department to ask the M/S TTC Infra India to urgently construct breast wall along the stretch of road, especially in built-up areas on a priority basis.

The district administration went on to state that ‘it would not be held accountable for any complications and issues that may arise in the event of properties/structures getting damaged due to non-construction of breast wall’.