Just when the crucial Kohima-Dimapur road is limping back to normalcy after the landslide near Dzüdza Bridge rendered it unfit for any vehicular movement for several days, the monsoon rain has once again wreaked havoc across Nagaland, triggering landslides that severely affected road transportation. People of the state woke up to tragic news of devastating landslides, especially along the National Highway 29 that connects state’s commercial hub, Dimapur, and the capital city, Kohima. Unfortunately, the one at Pherima, which took place on Tuesday night, claimed the lives of six people, injured several others and caused damage to property, including houses and vehicles. This happened even as the tragic rock fall at Pakala Pahar stretch of the same national highway that killed two people is still fresh in the minds of the people. This road stretch is once again closed for traffic, with a massive landslide washing away a huge portion of it. While it appears to be a case of natural calamity, the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) should seriously look into quality and safety measures while constructing roads, especially after the tragic rock fall incident at Pakala Pahar last year, which invited the wrath of the public as well as the state government. Many termed it a man-made disaster, citing steep road cuts and protruding boulders along the stretch. What measures have been taken over the past year to ensure the safety of commuters? This is something the construction company should ponder upon.
As a central government-owned company, the NHIDCL should set a standard for all construction firms in the country by displaying utmost professionalism through efficiency, quality and timely completion. For Nagaland, its connectivity is riding on the company, as more than 20 ongoing road projects are its undertaking. But so far, its performance is far from impressive, marred by allegations of poor workmanship and delay. This narrative needs to be changed with quality work. While infrastructure development is a must, compromising quality can prove costly as Nagaland is in a natural disaster-prone region. So, it is important to formulate strategies and measures to avert any man-made calamities, strengthen disaster preparedness and management, and build resilience. It is also worth mentioning that the state has come a long way in terms of response to disasters, be it the government departments or the general public. For instance, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), along with the local volunteers (people of Pherima), did a commendable job in carrying out rescue operations at the Pherima landslide site, managing to recover the bodies of the victims within a few hours despite the challenges involved. It will also be unfair not to acknowledge the incumbent government’s visionary policy towards mitigating natural calamity-induced economic losses and destruction of infrastructure in the state, for which a deal has been sealed with the SBI General Insurance for Disaster Risk Transfer Parametric Insurance Solution. What seems to have been overlooked all this while is workmanship. The NHIDCL should lead from the front on this.
