High Court issues directive on Kohima-Mao stretch of road along National Highway-02

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 17 (EMN): The Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court on Monday issued directives to the deputy commissioner of Kohima, contractor and others, with regard to National Highway-02 between Kohima and Mao.

Taking note of the slow progress of work along the stretch, a bench of Justice Songkhupchung Serto and Justice Kakheto Sema had directed the contractor, M/s Fortune Groups, to appear in person before the court on Oct. 17 during the hearing of a suo moto public interest litigation on the matter, to which the latter complied when the matter was taken up for hearing on Monday.

Managing Director of Fortune Group, Tapas Pathy, submitted before the court that there were 65 skilled and non-skilled labourers at the spot, and materials along with the machinery were ready to start the work immediately. He also submitted that he would mobilise 120 labourers within three days and 150 labourers within seven days to meet the target. He further added that work starts at 6:30 am in the morning.

In view of this, the court directed the authority engineer and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) to visit the site on Tuesday and see if work had really started and submit a report to the court in the next hearing.

“List the case again on Oct. 19 to hear the report of the NHIDCL and the Authority Engineer,” it directed.

Meanwhile, appearing for the contractor, advocate Joshua had submitted that all the problems had been resolved except for the obstruction in the construction of two culverts between Dzukou point and Bharat Petrol pump; obstruction by the petrol pump owner and the stone quarry owner at chainage 201+200, in the construction of 300m-long stretch of the road; and obstruction in the construction of box culvert near Tepul colony in Viswema village (Chainage 204+680) by the land owner.

The court had earlier directed the state government to see that the problems were resolved so that no obstruction is caused on the ground and the work can be executed smoothly.

The Revenue officer and the SDO (C) of the area concerned, in their letters addressed to the additional advocate general and to the deputy commissioner concerned, had mentioned that they had already taken steps towards resolving the issues.

“However, the fact that the issues are still alive shows that the steps so far taken by them have not been effective enough”, the court noted.

In this regard, the HC directed deputy commissioner of Kohima to take the responsibility upon himself and resolve the issues so that the ongoing work at the concerned places are no longer obstructed and are smoothly executed in the interest of the public.

“DC Kohima should ensure that the earlier directions of this court regarding the issue of parking of vehicles along this stretch of the road project are complied with,” it added.

It further directed the DC to file an affidavit showing the steps taken by him on issues mentioned above.

It also directed the addl. advocate general to submit a report regarding the directions given above during the next week but before Oct. 26.

“The project director of the contractor should represent the managing director on the next date,” the court ordered.

The suo moto public interest litigation on the matter was filed in the court due to non completion of the project, scheduled on April 22, 2022. The court was reminded that the work completed so far was only 16%, while it should have been at least 35% by 27th of this month.