Threaten to impose indefinite total bandh on NH 2 within 15 days
EMN
Dimapur, May 8
Pigued by long delay in widening and maintenance works on National Highway No. 2 – Wokha and Tseminyu sectors, Lotha and Rengma Hohos have jointly served an ultimatum to National Highways Authorities Nagaland to immediately start the work within 15 days failing which the Hohos said they would take their own course of action and that NH authorities would be held responsible for any eventuality.
“Naga people will all agree that three years after settlement of court case is too long for preparing DPR and to obtain sanction. Don’t the Nagaland NH authorities know that a DPR submitted for sanction has to be pursued with clarifications at every stage, for obtaining sanction? The rights of the people cannot be suppressed by any amount of clarifications or assurances, except by satisfactory works,” stated the ultimatum served by Lotha Hoho Wokha Chairman Mhao Humtsoe and Rengma Hoho Tseminyu President Kenyuseng Tep.
“The Lotha Hoho, Wokha and Rengma Hoho, Tseminyu have earlier, on the 26th May 2015 submitted a memorandum, for the same matter, following which the Chief Engineer, National Highways, has clarified through the local media with assuring comments saying “it has been observed regretfully that the Tseminyu and Wokha stretch of road is in deplorable condition because of litigation in the Supreme Court; but the court case is settled and the work on this stretch is proposed in the Annual Plan of 2014-15 and the updated DPR has been submitted to the MORT&H for sanction.”
“What about Annual Plan 2015-16? It is now 2016-17.” The Hohos pointed out that the Minister for National Highways had assured on 30th September 2015, for work on Tseminyu and Wokha road sectors within 2 weeks as published in sections of the local dailies.
The Hohos also pointed out that in the meeting of LH & RH with the Commissioner & Secretary and the Chief Engineer, NH, on the 3rd October 2015, the Hohos were assured that the Detailed Project Report could be ready for sanction within two months. “But the two Hohos are astounded/dumb-founded that it is neither “two weeks nor two months”; but it is now more than seven months, since assurances were given. So what do the people say? The Hohos know that the court case between contractors M/S Meenakshi Infrastructures Pvt Ltd and M/S DRA-VASCON (JV), was settled by 23.8.2013. What are NH authorities doing for the last nearly three years? Does it reflect inefficiency or indifference or deliberate discrimination or abhorrence, the Hohos fail to understand. The Hohos wonder as to how the NH Authorities can be so adamant, so indifferent and so discriminating to the two tribes, for so long. The hohos further ask if the people of Tseminyu and Wokha are excluded from Development benefits of Nagaland! Are NH funds meant exclusively for other sectors, only? Are NH authorities giving step motherly treatment to Wokha and Tseminyu people?”
Expressing dismay at the inaction of NH authorities, the Hohos said they have no option but to launch agitation by imposing an indefinite total bandh of NH 2 within the two sectors of Tseminyu and Wokha.
“The widening of this road for other sectors had been done at least a decade ago. But why leave out the middle portion (Tseminyu and Wokha) and execute other sectors and then forget the left out sector? Routine maintenance works, in other sectors, such as Kohima sector, have been going on for many years, now; and so if not widening, what about normal maintenance works for Wokha & Tseminyu sectors ? Nothing so far! Is this really not a discrimination? Yes, it is a blatant Discrimination! The activities shown by workers of NH, within these sectors, are potholes- filling, only, that is only showing crocodile tears, to the two communities, as if they are kids, to be fooled around. Honest and sensible Nagas will certainly agree with the view of the two Hohos.”
