The rainy season is back and so the worries of the Tening area people rises. The commuters have fought a long winter battle against the sand storm. But we choose to remain silent for we can at least ply despite the dust and crater. And now, the monsoon season has begun with heavy down-pouring converting most stretches of road to paddy field and fisheries ponds. Commuters will find tadpole in the stagnant water and we are lucky to have micro-eco system in the middle of the town road. It is best for the pedestrian to be lock inside the comfort of one’s own home to avoid the slippery road, for walking is also another big challenge. The cry of the people on the deteriorating road condition is unheard, so the road is from bad to worst which resulted due to the lackadaisical attitude towards the genuine plea of innocent public for at least a pliable road.
It is important to lay down certain facts about Tening town for the reader’s simple understanding that, the correct nomenclature of the town is “Tening Town” but not “Tenning town” as used in many government gazettes. The latter was declared and inaugurated as Town on the 10th April 1964 coinciding with the declaration of Mokokchung in the same year. It is a mother to many surrounding villages, as per census 2011; there are 20 villages with the total population of 25,864 within its circle.
I vividly remember the cheerfulness on the people’s face with high expectation assuming that their dooms day are over when the latter was upgraded to a full fledge additional Deputy Commission (ADC) headquarter on the 13th December 2014. With the big announcement for the Town and surrounding villages innocent citizens started concluded that the long awaited verdict of the area people has been delivered, which include the basic package of better road, water supply and electricity. In addition, the expectation of the people shot higher with the speech of the elected representatives who spoke on the auspicious occasion with big mouth on the deteriorating road condition, infrastructure, etc. Forcefully convincing everyone, through their speech that liberation day has finally arrived. Hard to believe, but the fact is that it was just the oratory skill used to deceive the innocent citizens. For after the big talk show, the town was just neglected and left out all alone again with hundreds of empty promises to be fulfilled.
Tening town, one of the oldest administrative headquarter in Nagaland as referred by many was inaugurated as town council from ad hoc town on the 28th Oct. 2016. The occasion was graced with the presence of many elected representatives which again resulted in shooting up many empty promises in the sky, but then the innocent people were already aware of the fact that it was just their oratory skills. It was very impressive on their part for they exactly knew to speak exactly what people have been longing to hear, but citizens refuse to be the victims of their empty promises,for the same lies and assurance has been told for a decade or more. Leaders and elected representatives who visited the town seems very concern about the toll and hardship faced by the people, but nothing much to expect for the purpose of visit was for big talks and empty promises.
The distance from Peren to Tening is just 28 km, but travellers are compelled to sacrifice their precious time for 4-5 hours and not mentioning about the other issues of health, vehicle maintenance, etc. because of the already deteriorated road conditions. It is a matter of shame for the sub-division people, for they are reflected wrongly by the visitors seeing the horrible road condition and many more. We like the courage of our leaders for boldly admitting to the fact that the sub-division is neglected for three decades or more, but how long is this going to happen? The people are running short of the patience.
So through my write up, I wanted to draw the attention of the concern department and the present government to take up necessary measures at the earliest for the deteriorating road condition from Peren to Tening, and also to blacktop the Tening Town road which is often referred to as paddy field or fishery pond, with no more feeble excuses. I will conclude my writing in good faith that the concern department and government will listen and take up necessary measures at the earliest without further delaying it.
