The apex Ao Senden has on Thursday granted a 20-day grace period to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and a private firm Trident Enterprises after its earlier ultimatum issued on September 12 to “restore and make NH 702D motorable” expired on September 20.
Trident Enterprises is the firm engaged for the Special Repair of NH 702D, Mokokchung-Mariani Road from Km 0.00 to Km 63.00. The Ao Senden had earlier on September 12 served an ultimatum to the General Manager (P), NHIDCL, PMU-Mokokchung to “immediately restore the route NH 702D Mariani-Mokokchung, which is completely damaged, and make it motorable by 20th September 2022.”
The Ao Senden addressing a press conference on Thursday announced that the 20-day grace period was being granted to the NHIDCL and the Trident Enterprises after they failed to comply with the Senden’s ultimatum that expired on September 20.
Chubawati Longchar, President, Ao Senden, stated that they have visited the site three times since the ultimatum was served on September 12. “We have seen the condition of the road and the quality of the work. We have seen the work in reality and it is not satisfactory at all,” the president declared.
“Though we have their letters of justification, the work executed and the letters do not match as per the inspection,” the Ao Senden president said. It may be mentioned that the NHIDCL had on September 15 submitted a letter to the Ao Senden based on the report of Trident Enterprises.
“As an apex organization and a parent body, we have looked into the issue from all angles and came to an agreement to grant a grace period of twenty more days w.e.f. 22 September till 10 October to the concerned authority to restore and make the road motorable,” the president stated.
“As a parent body, we are giving 20 more days to the company. If the company does not fulfill the demands of the people, the Ao Senden will, with whatever power we have, take our own course of action,” the Ao Senden declared.
The Ao Senden further stated that it firmly supports the Mokokchung Deputy Commissioner’s order restricting movement of heavy vehicles carrying more than 20 tonnes of payload and trucks bigger than 10 wheelers.
The Ao Senden further said that they have decided not to permit the contract holder to sublet contract works to other parties.
It was further stated that Ao Senden have decided that the “the system of approving contracts to lowest bidder in a tender call by the issuing agency/authority” will not be entertained in Mokokchung district.
The Ao Senden maintained that these decisions have been made so that the quality control of the contract works are not compromised and better works are carried out.
“All decisions are made for the welfare of the people and for the good of everyone; therefore, we seek the cooperation from the people,” said Ao Senden.