Zunheboto road connectivity worsens, 2 lane road/disasters The proposed and undergoing 2-lane project of the state road via Chakabama-Chozuba connecting to Zunheboto district has added various untold miseries and woes to the general public of the district. For the development and up gradation of the lifeline (roads) into 2-lane road, the public/landowners freely gave away their lands unconditionally and without any restrains or restrictions. But with due passage of time, the Gayatri company which was responsible for the 2-lane road construction had completely destroyed the road condition and the public had resorted to other routes since the road (Chozuba-Chakabama) is no more ply-able. The Gayatri Company and its workers are nowhere seen since past 7-8 months resulting to no maintenance of roads and is left at the mercy of nature specially the monsoon season leaving behind hundreds of pond like large potholes along its stretch. With a loss of thousand acres of land, plantations & trees etc., the matter has never materialised; even if those resources are lost, the pubic/land donors (villages) would be contended provided the road conditions improves. Whereas, the woes of the effected are beyond comprehension and at least 20-30 lacs were spent during these past months by general public owing to the change of route; taxi fares has also drastically risen at its highest. To cite an example, a trip from Zunheboto town to Satakha usually took ½ hour (less than 30 mins) before the proposed 2-lane but now it takes one and a half, trice the time earlier. I, therefore on behalf of the district public request the authority concerned to kindly take up the issue and intervene at the earliest for the common wellbeing of the entire effected community in Zunheboto district. There are now two alternate route commonly used by the public, taxis, buses, goods carrier, lorries etc., as a lifeline to connect to other districts; one is via Akuluto-Aolichen-Wokha and the other via Khukiye Lukhuye-Satakha-Chishili- Pughoboto, to get to the state capital (Kohima) and Dimapur too. If we ponder and calculate, the statistics seem quite surprising and astonishing if the time factor, fuel, taxi fares etc., are taken into consideration. I recall the speech by our minister for road & bridges, Azo, wherein he stressed and highlighted that the local Naga contractors should be given first privilege before engaging multi-national or international companies for work allotment/contracts. Therefore, if the multinational companies such as Gayatri does not perform then why not give a chance to local contractors instead. If so, on the economical aspect the locals (Nagas) monetary income can be streamlined; secondly, the locals have wider knowledge of the land and public relation; thirdly, the pressure group(s), NGOs etc., can intervene or pressurise the local contractors within the state if they delay the works or does not work diligently. Whereas, the companies such as mentioned in this episode are beyond the reach, untraceable or out of state, thus no pressure whatsoever can be initiated even if they are insincere or abandon the job half done/incomplete. Last but not the least, my sincere gratitude goes to Kaito Aye, home minister for all his efforts behind alternate route i.e Satakha- Khukiye Lukhaye-Chishili-Pughoboto road during his stint as the R & B minister. I also do acknowledge the tireless efforts of one contractor whom I have never meet or have a slightest idea who he is, but, his great deeds along the whole road stretch (alternate route) for the uninterrupted passage throughout the year and regardless of the weather (season), is highly commendable. Vikaho T Zhimomi, Ex-ZTC member, GB and social worker.
Posted on: Sun, 22 Sep 2013 14:01:26 +0000
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