Dzüdza landslide clearance work comes to a grinding halt

KOHIMA — It has been more than a week since the stretch of road along the National Highway-29 near Dzüdza Bridge is blocked by a massive landslide, causing inconvenience to the commuters, but there is no respite in sight as the ongoing clearance work at the affected site is said to have come to a grinding halt.

The M/S Brand Eagles, contractor for package-III of Kohima-Dimapur road under which landslides area fall, reportedly ceased the clearance work on Monday due non-payment of bills by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).

Deputy Commissioner of Kohima, Kumar Ramnikant told Eastern Mirror that his office had intervened and held a meeting on the matter the same day but the issue is “internal” and it is for them (contractor and NHIDCL) to resolve.

He added that he had directed the parties to resume the clearance work by Monday itself and the effort should not be stopped. He was assured that the work would start.

While informing that the company involved in the debris clearance work had been asked increase the number of machinery after sensing lack of enough machines, the DC expressed hope that the firm would response positively.

Providing update on the landslides between Jotsoma and Khonoma, he said the road is expected to be opened for light vehicles by Monday night or Tuesday morning, and that personnel of General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) are clearing the affected road stretch as it falls under their area.

Concerned agencies and department is also taking up road maintenance work, he added.

Ramnikant went on to say that he had received report about landslides near Dzüdza Bridge and submitted the same to the NSMA, on which a reply is expected in a day or two.

Meanwhile, sources informed this newspaper that there was not enough machinery on site, making the debris clearance work frustratingly slow. It added that the company didn’t deploy more machinery despite being confronted on the matter.

The Kohima Traffic Police updated on Monday that the landslide-affected stretch of Dimapur-Kohima four-lane road continues to be blocked.

Also read: More rain predicted for Nagaland; Dzüdza landslide yet to be cleared