Mimi-Khongka-Hakumuti road left unattended — Student bodies

Kohima, May 3 (EMN): Three student bodies have alleged that the road from Mimi to Khongka and Hakumuti, which was sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), has been left attended for years.

A joint press release issued by the Khongka Students’ Union, Betang Students’ Union and Hakkomute Students’ Union claimed that RTI report and DPR uncovered sanctioning of INR 15,68,29,000 (about INR 15.68 lakh) for the project covering 42 km.

It claimed that “the work was assigned to Hexad Syndicate (Thepfusatuo Rio) and the agreement between the contractor and Chief Engineer PWD (R&B) and the Empowered Officer PMGSY, NGRRDA Nagaland was signed on 9th April 2012, where the contractor has agreed to complete the entire project within the stipulated time”.

While stating that the project isn’t completed even today despite assurances, the student bodies also said that the road is suppose to be 42 km according to DPR but has only 29 km on ground, cutting short by 13 km.

Expressing strong resentment against the contractor and department for not resuming the road project work, the student bodies claimed that 72% of bill has been released, according to RTI report, while blacktopping has been done for approximately 3-4 km only ‘which is also of the cheapest quality’.

The student bodies went on to say that “the department’s policy of neglecting the eastern most part of Nagaland is always hurting and painful; the continuous step motherly treatment melted out towards us is questionable”.

While seeking clarification from the concerned department for not completing the 42 km road project even after 11 years, the unions demanded to execute the work at the earliest, failing which they will “take matter to the higher level”.