Bad Roads blocking Development

Dimapur | February 17 : The Joint Forum of GBs and Areas (5 Areas) public leaders, hailing from Central Jail, Dimapur to Rengmapani, Niuland submitted a joint memorandum to G Kaito Aye, Minister for Road and Bridges, highlighting the bad road condition between Central Jail, Dimapur to Rengmapani, Niuland, covering an approximate length of 50 kms. The memorandum was submitted to the Minister on the sidelines of the 10th MBE Zhuikhu Memorial Gold Cup at Hozuqhe village on February 10 last.

The memo, which was appended by village GBs, Chairmen, Ad-hoc Town Council and Organisation, stated that “there existed a road (approximately 50 kms long) between Central Jail, Dimapur to Rengmapani, Niuland, which used to serve the need of the people spread over more than 125 villages and 5 areas viz. Niuland, Nihokhu, Agunaqha, Kuhuboto and Khaghaboto. Except the said road there was no other road communication available to those lakh and lakhs of people. This was the main road and ‘Life Line’ to the inhabitants in the ‘Land Locked’ areas.”
Villagers submit memorandum to Minister
Referring to the road, the memo stated that “the existing road has been totally damaged, destroyed and become completely unserviceable for any vehicular traffic to ply; the people cannot even take journey on foot through this adverse condition of the road, which is totally disastrous. Instances are not remote, when a sick person had to undertaker journey on human shoulder for obtaining medical-aid had breathed his/her last due to hazardous journey.”
The deplorable roads besides causing hardships to the local populace, has also taken its toll on the governance of the area. The memo pointed out that “due to such deplorable road condition the officials of the ADC, Niuland and other officials posted to our areas make excuses for their irregular attendance to duties, which in turn leaves an adverse impact on the functioning of the Government over here besides causes unexplainable hardships and harassments to the people.”
Narrating on the development front, it stated that the non-availability of the only road communication has its severe impact on the all-round development of these ‘Land-Locked Areas,’ resulting into heavy set-back to the people, ‘as no development of the modern days could reach them, nor their economy could receive a lift from age-old darkness’.
“The rainy season is fast approaching and knocking the door, and unless the said road is re-constructed immediately with proper black-topping etc. we are afraid, the entire society in these areas shall face further sufferings, hardships and harassments beyond any imagination.”
The memo also assured the Minister that all villages and the areas will extend its fullest co-operation in the matter of construction and widening of the said road. “We may also assure that the authority may always count on the co-operation of the GBs Union of these villages and the areas in this regard,” it added.
The memo ‘sincerely’ urged the Minister to sanction immediately for re-construction of the said road with black-topping, widening and with other necessary developments etc. However, it also ‘requested’ the Minister that the work of re-construction of the road may be entrusted upon a renowned, honest and sincere organisation or a company instead of giving to any individual/private contractor.