The three apex HOHOs—the Ao Senden, Lotha Hoho, and Sumi Hoho—held an emergency consultative meeting with the Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) at the Lotha Hoho headquarters in Wokha on February 4, 2025. The meeting, which also included representatives of contractor firms and proprietors, was convened to address the deadlock over the signing of the Implementing Agreement between the NFHRCC and certain contractor firms under the jurisdiction of the CNTC.
After extensive deliberations, the meeting unanimously resolved to entrust the Lotha Hoho with the responsibility of resolving the dispute between the NFHRCC and contractor firms working in the Baghty division. The contractors are expected to sign the Implementing Agreement, which has been in practice since the Foothills Road Project began in 2013 and was unconditionally endorsed by 12 apex tribal HOHOs. The Lotha Hoho has been given a five-day deadline to reason with the concerned contractors and ensure compliance.
In the event that the contractor firms fail to sign the agreement within the given time, the resolution adopted by the three apex HOHOs on January 16, 2025, at Ao Senden HQ in Mokokchung will be enforced. The concerned department will also be urged to nullify the work orders of the non-compliant firms.
Additionally, the meeting resolved that during this five-day period, contractor firms that have not yet signed the agreement should not commence any work at the allocated project sites.