Nagaland government pulls up NHIDCL after tragic rockslide

• Impementting agency asked to submit detailed report by July 21
• Action to be taken based on report of technical committee
• NH-29 likely to be opened to public only after monsoon

DIMAPUR— Days after a rockslide killed two people and injured three others on the Dimapur-Kohima four-lane road, the government of Nagaland pulled up the implementing agencies of the stretch of road for not taking cognizance of the reports sent by the Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB) and Deputy Commissioner of Chümoukedima in connection with the quality of road and dangers associated with it.

Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland, TR Zeliang, who is also in-charge of National Highways, convened a meeting with all the three implementing agencies of the National Highway 29 — PWD (NH), NHIDCL and BRO – at Rhododendron Hall, Police Complex in Chümoukedima on Tuesday with an aim to take corrective measures. It was also attended by contractors involved in the four-lane project.

Briefing media persons after the meeting, the deputy CM said the NHIDCL had not responded to the NPCB and the district administration when it was reminded of the possible dangers, so he had directed it to give a befitting reply, providing the reasons for not responding as well as prepare a detailed report on safety measures for future, before July 21.

It may be mentioned that the NPCB and DC, Chümoukedima had cautioned the contractors on the risks and dangers posed by questionable engineering, sub-standard construction material, among others. The NHIDCL was also directed to refrain from using dynamites for blasting the rocks citing a possible destruction of environment and injury to travelers.

While terming the July 4 incident as unfortunate, he said, ‘we have to accept that it was a natural calamity, but today, we discussed on safety measures on road construction, not only Dimapur to Kohima but also all the important roads in the state, as safety measure is topmost priority in all road project’.

The deputy CM said they had underlined some important points the implementing agencies should take note of during the initial stage, that a whole hillock should not be cut down but maintain bench-cutting while constructing road.

Meanwhile, Zeliang claimed that the NHIDCL is not a “technical expert” agency but only an implementing agency which appoints consulting groups and contractors.

“So the contractors are supposed to have technical team according to EPC mode, and accordingly the contractors will design the road on what should be done,” he said.

He also maintained that the right of way (ROW) marking should be done by a survey team, and if they need more land, they should inform the DC or land revenue department.

“If there is shortfall of land, the NHIDCL should inform and write an official report to government,” he said.

When asked about action the state government is taking against the NHIDCL and the implementing agencies, Commissioner and Secretary, Kesonyu Yhome, said a high-level technical committee has been formed to look into the matter. Action will be taken accordingly based on the report of the technical team, he added.

NHIDCL cautioned for blaming govt.

On the NHIDCL’s that the government had failed provide alternate road for it to take preventive measures when the NPCB and DC pointed out the flaws, Zeliang said NHIDCL cannot blame the state government out-rightly “in such manner,” and “we have cautioned them not to repeat in the future.”

He updated that the alternate road, Dimapur-Niuland-Zhadima is under construction, but due to land issue, package I could not be completed in time while package II and III are already completed. Once it is completed, he said it will be the best alternate route as the distance between Niuland and Zhadima is only 37 km.

Bench cutting and breast wall

NHIDCL has assured that it will initiate corrective measures and prepare the estimate on how to construct benching and breast wall, Zeliang updated.

When asked why the state government did not take action earlier, he replied the NHIDCL is directly under the supervision of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and not under the state government. He pointed out that the contract as well as appointment of consultants is done by the Centre and the state government has no control over them technically, except pointing out flaws and corrective measure.

Displaying of contractor’s name

The deputy CM suggested that the name of contractors be displayed on the roadside for each package in order to instill accountability on their part people tend to blame only the implementing agency or the government as most of the time.

Additional land requirement

Meanwhile, Executive Director of NHIDCL, AN Singh, informed that they will consider bench cutting, as proposed by the deputy CM, but will need additional land for that. He added that they will send the proposal to the state government.

Singh also said that they have identified 11 hazardous sites along the highway stretch and a detailed report has been submitted to the headquarters.

He further said that the highway will be opened to traffic after the monsoon as they do not want to put the public at risk.

Technically unprofessional, says Rio

Meanwhile, speaking on the sidelines of a programme on Tuesday, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said that he had spoken with the chief secretary and Deputy CM TR Zeliang on the plight of the public due to closing down of the highway stretch.

He said that they should immediately find out ways and means to open the road stretch and also see whether police can regulate and allow vehicles for emergency cases.

He said that when a road is cut vertically, it becomes very dangerous, and therefore, scientifically and technically, step cutting should have been done.

They (NHIDCL) also used dynamites to blast the mountains, Rio said, adding that this was technically unprofessional.

In regard to the alternate road from Niuland to Zhadima, he said that there are so many problems, pointing out that the MoRTH handles national highways but the state government doesn’t have enough funds for state roads.

Also read: Nagaland rockslide tragedy: NPF accuses NHIDCL of negligence, lauds CM’s initiative