Kohima, 17 July (MTNews): Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu, MLA and Leader of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) Legislature Party, has raised serious concerns over the negligence of the National Highway & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) regarding public safety. In a press release issued today, Nienu said the NPF’s party will be compelled to drag both the Contractor and the NHIDCL to the Court in order to save lives if justice is not delivered.
He also highlighted the lack of remedial action and guarantees from NHIDCL, particularly in the aftermath of the tragic incident on 4 July that resulted in the loss of two lives due to a rock fall at New Chumoukedima along the Kohima-Dimapur four-lane road.
Nienu drew attention to the repeated requests and warnings from the Nagaland Pollution Control Board regarding the safety measures and destructive environment caused by the unsafe earth cuttings during the construction of the four-lane road. Despite these concerns, he pointed out that the NHIDCL failed to respond appropriately and dismissed the tragic incident as a natural disaster, turning a deaf ear to the calls for accountability.
Expressing disappointment, Nienu stated, “It was very unfortunate on the NHIDCL’s part to blame the state government for not providing the necessary land for the road’s construction. It is understandable even to the layman that it can be dangerous when such cuts are made on steep slopes. Even the state government has rightly pointed out that blowing up dynamite and the way the earth was cut up is unprofessional. How come, then, that the NHIDCL is calling its negligence a natural disaster?”
Nienu emphasized the importance of valuing human lives and urged the state government to launch an independent inquiry committee to investigate the work performance that led to the tragic incident on 4 July. Depending on the findings of the investigation, he stated that appropriate actions and punishments should be imposed on NHIDCL or the contractor responsible for the negligence.
“The NPF party will be compelled to drag both the Contractor and the NHIDCL to the public Court in order to save lives if justice is not delivered at the earliest,” Nienu added.