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DIMAPUR — In response to the prolonged closure and the perceived inaction of the responsible authorities, the government of Nagaland has issued a 72-hour deadline to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to clear the landslide debris near Dzüdza Bridge along the Dimapur-Kohima National Highway 29.
The deadline, effective from Aug. 26, was issued by the Commissioner and Secretary of the Works and Housing Department, taking serious note of the NHIDCL and the concerned contractor’s failure to clear the landslide debris and open the national highway for traffic.
“This is not the first time the NHIDCL has failed despite the fact that the state machineries and the villagers have offered all possible support and assistance,” stated the notice, issued to the Executive Director , NHIDCL.
Stating that the matter was further discussed at the highest level of the state government, it further cautioned that the “the state government will employ required machinery and manpower to open the road and the bills on expenditure incurred will be submitted to NHIDCL for payment”.
Addressing the public concern, the office of Deputy Chief Minister and in-charge of National Highways, TR Zeliang, released a statement on Tuesday outlining the government’s efforts, assuring the public of the government's proactive approach in resolving the crisis.
It said that since the landslide occurred, the government has been constantly engaging with the implementing agency, NHIDCL, and lending support to expedite clearance work and open the highway for traffic.
Stating that a landslide of this magnitude demanded a thorough understanding of the geological factors at play, a joint team from the District Administration, Geology and Mining department, and NPWD conducted a site visit on Aug. 20 to assess the situation and formulate a plan to halt the mudslide at its source while simultaneously expediting debris removal.
That same day, a meeting was convened with the contractor, where clear directives were issued to prioritise debris clearing above all else and to deploy all available machinery to expedite the process, it said.
However, concerns arose over the slow pace of work and a subsequent a high-level meeting, chaired by the Development Commissioner on August 26, revealed misunderstandings between the EPC contractor and NHIDCL regarding the scope of work, which negatively impacted progress.
The Geology and Mining department further recommended urgent drainage solutions, including using muck pumps to divert water flow and minimising further erosion. It also raised concern over a nearby stone quarry potentially aggravating the landslide, urging NHIDCL to address the issue swiftly, said the statement.
Furthermore, taking a firm stance against the perceived “lackadaisical attitude” of NHIDCL and the contractor, the state government, through the Works and Housing department, issued a 72-hour deadline to NHIDCL to clear and reopen the highway, it said.
“This arrangement is necessitated as the public cannot be left to suffer because of dereliction and negligence of the implementing agency,” it further stated, reiterating the state government’s commitment to public safety and convenience.
While we understand that natural calamities are not in our control, we should be sincere in our effort to alleviate the pain of the people, it added.
Clearance work in full swing — NHIDCL
Meanwhile, the NHIDCL on Tuesday informed that the landslide clearance work had resumed at 8 pm on August 26, with three excavators and nine Hyva trucks deployed on the Kohima side and additional three excavators and seven Hyva trucks on Dimapur side.
On reports circulated on social media that the Dzüdza landslide clearance has been halted, the Regional Office, NHIDCL, Kohima in an update stated that the work was “stopped due to operational reasons of the EPC contractor.”
“NHIDCL is working in close coordination with state government and is fully committed to clear the debris at the earliest by mobilising the necessary machinery and resources to maintain the line of communication and to obviate the inconvenience to the road users,” it stated.