Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 7
The Nagaland Foothills Road Co-ordination Committee (NFRCC) on Saturday decided that there would “no turning back” on the July 17 representation to the Chief Minster, in which the Committee had asked the state government to start construction works by October.This decision comes in the backdrop of the September 3 meeting between NFRCC and department of Roads and Bridges held in Kohima in which the later had reportedly asked for more time- “at least a year time”- to begin the works, according reliable to sources.
The NFRCC delegation were reportedly told by one of the department engineers that it would take three months for the department to conclude and inform the Committee as to when to begin the survey works.
“Everything has to be finished by September and works should be started from October 1,” the NFRCC said. The Committee would not tolerate any form of “delay tactics”, it was decided.
Saturday’s meeting also resolved that the NFRCC would not allow any form of deductions by government officials or ministers from the allotted budget, except for the “mandatory” deposits and fees.
It reaffirmed the earlier decision that there would be no demand of land compensation and directed the respective tribal Hohos to obtain No Objection Certificates from the landowners within 7 days time.
Naga political groups would also be approached with a request to exempt the Foothill Road project from taxations and to seek their “support” to the project.
It further decided that allocation of contract works should carry the consent of the NFRCC. The Committee unanimously agreed that the works would be shared among all the 10 tribes represented in the NFRCC.
