The Nagaland Foothills Road Construction Committee (NFHRCC) has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Chief Engineer (R&B) following the receipt of a letter that undermines the committee’s role in the Foothills Road project. In a statement, the NFHRCC said that since its inception, the NFHRCC has been ”tirelessly shouldering all the responsibilities through thick and thin in order to safeguard this historic Naga project.” The committee made it clear that it was established “not to politicize the Foothills Road project in any manner whatsoever.”
According to NFHRCC, in the year 2013, the PWD(R&B) had duly endorsed the committee to select the contractors for the execution of the project on credit. Accordingly, as being directed by the concerned department, the Committee had exercised the same with lot of “hardships and atrocities.”
“In this regard, it is also expedient to mention herein that on 22nd Sept 2022, the Nagaland Legislative Assembly had passed assembly resolution to the effect that the Foothills Road will be constructed under the North Eastern Council (NEC) funding,” it noted.
However, the NFHRCC pointed out that despite repeated request and prayer, the same was not looked into as resolved.
“Thus, being the situation, the committee approach the Hon’ble Governor of Nagaland and subsequently on the strength of the his letter, the committee had met the Hon’ble Union Minister of DONER at Delhi on Dec. 17th, 2023. In the meantime, the Project was sanctioned under SASCI,” the NFHRCC explained in their statement.
On May 8, 2024, the NFHRCC submitted a seven-point memorandum to the concerned department, advocating for a tripartite agreement between the department, the committee, and contractors “with a view to maintain the workmanship of the project.”
The committee aims to support young, qualified Naga entrepreneurs, stating that “one firm will get only one work order that too with the specific length of 10-15 Kms.”
Following the arrival of the working season, the NFHRCC reaffirmed its 2014 undertaking with the Nagaland Contractors and Suppliers Union (NCSU). Subsequently, the committee formally approached the concerned department on October 15, 2024, requesting a meeting regarding the construction of the two-lane Foothills Road (FHR). However, the NFHRCC expressed shock that they received a letter from the Chief Engineer (R&B) stating that “the Department cannot officially involve the NFHRCC for the allotment of works and is also not authorized to unilaterally enter into a tripartite agreement with NFHRCC for the execution of the NFHR project.”
In response to the Chief Engineer’s letter, dated October 16, 2024, the committee convened a consultative meeting with 12 Dimapur-based tribal Hohos, including the ASTD, Chang Union, Phom Union, Western Yimkhuing Hoho, Western Sumi Hoho, Khiamniungan Union, Western Sangtam People Organisation, apex Lotha Hoho, Zeliang People Organisation, Kuku Inpi, Rengma People Organisation, and Konyak Union on October 18, 2024. After extensive deliberations, the consultative meeting adopted a three-point resolution.
The House unanimously resolved to outrightly reject the CE (R&B) letter dated October 16, 2024, and further resolved to reaffirm the NFHRCC seven-point memorandum dated May 8, 2024.
The House resolved to urge the concerned authorities to immediately suspend the tendering process regarding the FHR construction until the matter is amicably settled.
The House further resolved to urgently convene a meeting with the Committee, including the Commissioner & Secretary of NPWD, Engineer-in-Chief (NPWD), and CE (R&B), to explain why the letter dated October 16, 2024, was issued to the committee after 11 years of its existence.