Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Aug. 15: A retaining wall at NH 36A, erstwhile Dimapur Lumding Halflong Silchar Road, at Thahekhu village was been damaged in the early hours of Tuesday. The road which also connects Dimapur to Kohima and Manipur has become non pliable, leaving the road completely cut-off.
Eastern Mirror while interacting with the chairman of Thahekhu Village Council, Khekuto Yeptho, was informed that the road has not been maintained by the government; rather it was the residence and the council that maintained it. “The government has been ignoring this road ever since it was built about 35 years ago. It is only the people of Thahekhu who maintain the road,” he confessed.
It was reported that after the bridges at Nagarjan and Purana were damaged during the last monsoon, heavy vehicles, including ten wheelers and 14 wheelers, are diverted to ply through the approach road making it even worst.
Yeptho said that the village councils tried to maintain the road by strengthening the retaining wall but was all in vain.
He conveyed that the road was not so important for the villagers and the commuters as they only use the approach road above the effected road.
Now that the road is cut-off the heavy vehicles resort to take the approach road, which is not meant for heavy vehicles. The Thahekhu Village Council is now concerned about the safety of the lives of the villagers and the commuters as it will create a lot of traffic congestion and will minimise the longevity of the road. They are also more concerned about the school and church that is located along the stretch of the road.
The chairman said that initially the council members as well as the residence were not willing to allow heavy vehicles to take the approach road. Rather, it was through a request made by the District Development Board (DDB) chairman who appealed to allow trucks to take the route.
Yeptho also said that the village councils conducted a meeting about the road with the DDB chairman on Wednesday.
During the meeting, the board assured that the road will be looked upon and will be fix it at the earliest.
On the other hand, the council members warned that if the road is not repaired immediately, either by the government or the DDB, then they will be forced to block the road.
