Z. Lohe
Firstly, what do I personally gain from exposing the ills in our society today? What will be the reciprocity from people to what subject I considered worth placing in the public domain? Who, particularly those professional exploiters, care to read the write up and mend their ways for they cannot escape from being noticed by others? Will it sensitize or prick anybody? No, no degree or amount of criticism can tickle the thick steel skin of professional exploiters. In Naga parlance today, those who are speaking the truth are branded as frustrated, anti-that group, anti-this group, anti-government, anti-settlement, anti-unity and anti-Naga. The ‘Let it be’ and timidity have overwhelmed Naga society. Nevertheless, in Naga society, I believe there is no dearth of honest and God fearing people. To those who are for the truth, when the truth is spoken, their spirit is lifted, and they feel emboldened and supported. There are Naga Christians who do not worship other gods as power, money and status but they worship the only Living God who introduced Himself to be a jealous God, and to these people the truth delights them.
Yet, to speak the truth requires courage and sacrifice as its ramifications are immense. When I speak the truth, though without malice, I only earn irks from those who are implicated. When I speak the truth, I get myself isolated from majority for the fact that majority Nagas unfortunately do not stand for the truth today. Nevertheless, the ultimate winner will be the truth.
On the given subject, when Imphal is getting rail head, Zubza is much easier to have railway extension. I remembered somebody critically wrote about the extension of railway to Zubza which is deep inside the ILP enforced zone. Such apprehension is logical in view of the complacency of the administration, despite of having restrictive laws at our disposal. Our small land has become so porous for unauthorised people to come and dominate the land owners if ILP is not strictly enforced to effectively screen people coming to Zubza by train. The apprehension is correct that Zubza rail head may become the floodgate for floating population to outnumber the indigenous people. This aspect has to be given the importance by the Govt.
When the movement of people is properly monitored, the positive aspect of Zubza railhead will be the impact on freight charges. The 58 km minus from 74 km can give a difference. The prices of essential commodities which should become cheaper at Kohima and beyond at par with Dimapur. Therefore, from economic point of view, it should become an asset to the State in the long run.
For Dhansiri-Zubza project, an amount of Rs.145.45 crores had been incurred up to March 31, 2016. Perhaps the expenditures were on survey works and land compensation. Rs.350 crores has been allocated for this year up to March 2017 as against the estimated cost of Rs.2315.30 crores for 90.5 km distance as per media report.
The question to be raised is this: Will Zubza railhead become a reality? By personal experience, it is impossible to believe that this project will become successful. On the visit of former Prime Minister of India Sri. Vajpai to Nagaland in October 2003, Rs.400 crores was promised for Dimapur-Kohima 4-lane road. The same was given to Guwahati-Shillong 4-lane road during the same period. Today, the people of Meghalaya are enjoying riding it. Even after 13 years, Nagaland is struggling with land acquisition and who should and who should not get the works. Though the Union Railways Minister Sri. Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu laid the foundation stone for Dhansiri-Zubza railroad on 1.8.2016, may be we have to wait for another decade in the name of land issues, contractors issue, etc.
Secondly, when 4 roads under SARDP-NE of 2 lane category, namely, Longleng-Changtonya, Mon-Tamlu-Merangkong, Phek-Pfutsero and Zunheboto-Chakhabama roads were approved and undertaken by Maytas-Gayatri, proper execution was not allowed. What became the biggest obstacle was sucking the blood of the projects by Nagas. Who are those Nagas who were responsible for the failure of these four roads? The answer is: from top to bottom. Some Naga politicians who occupied the responsible offices and who were supposed to protect and promote the project, some Naga national workers who farcically harp on sovereignty, some Naga NGOs who are fond of wearing philanthropy uniform and some of those Naga officers who were supposed to guide and assist the contractors collectively sucked the fund dry. The payments were released without assessing the actual execution on ground. The key construction company representatives had to live and move as virtual underground as the pester for commission was beyond the human manageability. Confidently speaking, I along with my area public organisation had hard tasks to tackle since all the rich and powerful were on one side opposing us, therefore we could do very little except the mental satisfaction. As of now, thanks to Guwahati High Court for its intervention, and yet there is uncertainty as to whether the Union Govt. will abide by the Court’s ruling. Whereas, I am not allowed to be optimistic even when the works on these four roads resume. The fact is that even at the very moment, the contractors are unable to come to Nagaland for fear of being taxed not by ordinary people but by very powerful leaders.
The above is what Nagaland is today. Had the above issue raised been in a Hindu or Muslim dominated State, it would have become a big scam. The public would not have spared the culprits. The case would have been investigated, the culprits being booked and the projects revived. In a Christian State as Nagaland, who will bother to inquire into the status of these 4 roads after all the first sanction was exhausted.
Can Zubza railhead be spared by the same group of vultures, crocodiles lead by lions in Naga zoo? Can Dhansiri-Zubza rail project become a reality? Why have I put question as the headline is all those who were responsible for the destruction of the 4nos of 2-lane projects have not disappeared. Yes, the sub-contractors were irresponsible and they clicked well with the similar local elements to jointly lick the fund dry at the expense of those of us who struggled to bring our respective roads. I may not be wrong in saying that Zubza railhead may face the same fate. I will not be surprised the much publicised project may fizzle out while getting ready for takeoff.
