NH-129A construction: NHIDCL breached agreement, says PVC

DIMAPUR — The Peren Village Council (PVC) has accused the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL) of breaching the mutual understanding and agreement between the state government & NHIDCL on one hand and the stakeholders including village councils and public on the other, with regard to construction of NH-129A.

In a representation to the state chief minister, PVC stated that the “unilateral, blatant and prejudicious decision” of the NHIDCL ignores the sacrifice and aspirations of the people, lacks compassion and fails to understand the ground realities.

Though the representation did not specifically mention the charges against NHIDCL, the corporation has allegedly not kept its part of the bargain to acquire 18m Right of Way (RoW), to develop a 15m wide blacktop road in Peren town, with provision of suitable road marking/divider to channelise the traffic and correctly estimate the damage compensation in the town portion, to facilitate the construction of the Highway.

The council stated that the present NH-129A was originally an interstate road connecting the states of Nagaland and Manipur, constructed sometime in 1990’s by Border Roads Organisation. On November 3, 2015, Union Minister Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Nitin Gadkari in presence of the then state Chief Minister TR Zeliang laid the foundation stone for construction of NH-129A.

“That, actual construction of NH-129 A (Package1) over a stretch of 17.281 km started sometime on 4th December of 2020 and even after a lapse of 2 years 6 months, Peren Town stretch of 2.5 km and 300 metre (Peren Kipeuzang) have not started and remain incomplete to this day. To this effect, the public have undergone mental trauma and have not undertaken developmental work along this route,” PVC stated.

The council informed that under the given circumstances where the “trust and mutual agreement has been breached by NHIDCL,” PVC would be compelled to undertake measures if NHIDCL “superimposes its decision,” which defies technical logic and sense, undermines the sentiments of the public and also disregards the letter of the MoRTH minister.

The council cautioned that it would withdraw all NOCs previously issued regarding NH-129A Package1 within one month with effect from June 30, 2023, file PIL and sue NHIDCL and the state government for all damages, including land from River Tepuiki till Peren town. Further, the council will restrict interstate movement of vehicles along NH-129A (Package 1).