Chakhesang Public Organisation Committee seeks CS’ intervention on 2-lane road

DIMAPUR— The Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO) Committee on 2-Lane Road, Phek district, has implored the state chief secretary’s “immediate intercession” to the alleged non-compliance of the judgment and order of the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, by the state government.

The committee, in a letter to the chief secretary on Thursday, reminded him of the court’s judgment and order dated January 30, 2023, in regard to the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) No. 09/2019.

The committee stated that the court had disposed of the PIL while directing the state government to make the first move by submitting a proposal with the assessment made to the central government or the Ministry concerned, and that on receipt of the same, the Ministry should initiate the process of allocation and release of fund to the state government.

“Thereafter, the State Government shall disburse the same through the deputy commissioner of the district concerned, to the genuine land owners whose lands, properties, standing crops and trees etc., have been damaged or destroyed during construction of the mad.

“The whole exercise should be completed within a reasonable time but not beyond 6 (six) months from the date of the judgment and order.”

However, in disregard to the time-bound (six months) direction given, the state government has not complied with the court order till date, the committee maintained.

“Therefore, the public wishes to know from your authority as to why the government has not complied with the court judgment and order, and to implore your immediate intercession. Justice delayed is justice denied; that so, non-compliance may invite further legal, as well as public reaction,” it stated.

Meanwhile, the committee also furnished a copy of a letter written by Chief Secretary J Alam to Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Anurag Jain, on May 12, 2023.

The chief secretary, in the letter, apprised the secretary MoRTH of a proposal for claim of compensation for properties damaged during the execution for the work ‘2-Lane on Pfutsero-Phek Road and Chakabama-Zunheboto Road under SARDP-NE’ amounting to INR 60,94,36,685 (Rupees sixty crore ninety-four lakh thirty-six thousand six hundred eighty-five).

Alam informed that the proposal is in pursuant to the High Court judgement and order dated January 30 passed in PIL No. 09/2019.

The letter also said that, as per the direction of the court, a copy of the assessment which was conducted by a joint survey comprising of officers of the state government, aggrieved persons and members of local administrative bodies on February 27, 2017, was also enclosed. “I, therefore, request you to kindly look into the proposal for further allocation of fund and release of the same to the State Government so that the proposed 2-Laning work will be carried out unhindered in the State,” read the letter written by the chief secretary of Nagaland.

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