Dimapur, August 18 : The Mokokchung District Truck Owners’ Association (MDTOA) has demanded due attention of the PWD authorities to the upkeep of the Mokokchung-Mariani road.
The organization issued a representation on Thursday addressed to the chief engineer of the state’s Public Works department (highways), giving it about a month to redress the grievance or face a ‘chakha bandh.’
The road remains neglected since many years by the government, the owners lamented. “At present, this road condition has worsened than before, and unable to ply heavy as well as small vehicles. As a result of which, the general public of the three districts are greatly affected, specially the truck owners have to bear the brunt of the deteriorated road condition as their truck vehicles are damage beyond repair during the transportation and supply of public goods,” the group stated.
According to the organization, the national highway between Mokokchung and Mariani is the lifeline of the public of the districts of Mokokchung, Tuensang and Zunheboto. 'This road is the most important link feeding the public, and for public transportation and supply of commodities. As such, all the three districts solely depend on the road for their livelihood,’ they stated.
More than 500 to 700 heavy vehicles use the road daily but the damage on the road and its condition has forced the truck owners to keep off using their vehicles, the owners stated. The trucks are ‘unable to bear public burden for transportation and supply of their daily needs. For which, this road requires immediate (repair) by the government,’ the organization stated.
The truckers added a warning: “Please note that failure to comply with this request representation letter and not resuming the repairing works on this road within a period of 30 days from the date of the issue of this letter, the Mokokchung Truck Owner Association has no any alternative, but compels (sic) to initiate ‘chaka bandh’ on this road. In the event of any consequences on the said road, the Truck Owner Association, Mokokchung shall not take any risk in future.’
