NoT TO SEEK LAND COMPENSATION FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION
Demand for early construction and completion of the Dimapur-Tizit foothill road, which was revived and spearheaded by Ao Union Dimapur (ASTD) under the endorsement of Ao Senden, gathered momentum Saturday.
Representatives from nine tribes namely Ao, Sumi, Lotha, Konyak, Khiamniungan, Yimchunger, Phom, Sangtam and Chang converged Saturday at ASTD treasurer Yashitsungba Aier’s residence, to deliberate on the issues related to the foothill connectivity, which the State government assured would be made functional at the earliest.
Asserting foothill road was an issue concerning the whole of Nagas, tribal unions present at the meeting pledged financial, physical and emotional support or in any other way.
The consultative meeting resolved to give a time frame till September 30 to the State government to begin construction of the road, failing which, the public would execute the road construction through their own means.
The house was unanimous in their decision not to demand any land compensation from the state government.
The tribes also resolved to appeal to all Naga underground groups not to demand any deduction/tax of any form fund allocated for construction of the foothill road.
A resolution was also adopted to constitute a standing committee at the earliest, comprising of representatives from all the nine tribes, to monitor and supervise issues related to the foothill road.
The meeting also resolved that the foothill road should not be politicized in any form and that the construction should be initiated within the definition of the “foothill road.”
With appeal to the state government to execute construction in line with the June 10 agreement, the meeting also urged the Engineer in Chief PWD Road and Bridges, to respond to the 30 day ultimatum served by ASTD 30 (as on June 6) at the earliest.
It may be mentioned that at the June 10 resolution of the joint consultative meeting between Ao Senden and State government held at the chamber of chief secretary Alemtemshi Jamir, the government assured that it stood committed to agreement for immediate action in making the existing connectivity from Tizit to Dimapur functional at the earliest.
The resolution also said a special action would be undertaken for the stretch via Bhandari to Zukheshi and to complete the missing sections within the current financial year 2013-14.
The state government had recently announced the sanction of Rs 40 crore for “redress of the foothill connectivity.”
Western Sumi Hoho president said resolution has already been passed not to demand any land compensation within their jurisdiction.
Assuring that WSH was ever ready to provide any assistance to solve the road connectivity issue, the president also asked the Ao Senden to regard the issue as a problem of all Nagas living in foothill areas.
Representative of Lower Lotha Range Public Organization (LLRPO) representing 72 villages under border area suggested that an appeal be immediately made to the state government to initiate action to ensure that the foothill road was implemented immediately.
Dimapur Konyak Union said the foothill road construction, when commenced should begin from both ends simultaneously- from Tizit on one side and Dimapur on the other.
Representative from Khiamniungan, Yimchunger, Sangtam, Phom and Chang tribes Dimapur assured their full support to the initiative of Ao Senden.
They said that since they were directly or indirectly affected by “land or no land within the foothill road jurisdiction”, it was their bounden obligation to assist in any way necessary.
Northern Sumi area officials who were also present pledged support and contribution in any capacity possible.
The meeting also deliberated on certain confusion arising out of the construction of the futuristic four-lane Tizit-Dimapur-Khelma road and the current Dimapur-Tizit foothill connectivity in question.
~NP