Three landslide locations identified on Dikhu Bridge–Amguri Road
Principal Secretary and Development Commissioner Y Kikheto Sema, IAS, on Monday inspected the Library-cum-Museum at Ungma and the Dikhu Bridge–Amguri Road project in Mokokchung district, with officials directing attention to the operationalisation of the museum and remedial works at landslide-affected portions of the road.
The Library-cum-Museum at Ungma was constructed under the North Eastern Council (NEC). Sema said the project was sanctioned in April 2017 at a cost of Rs 4.21 crore and completed in November 2024. Of the sanctioned amount, Rs 3.55 crore was released by NEC, while the State share of Rs 42.07 lakh has also been released, clearing all liabilities.
He said a claim of Rs 12.55 lakh towards GST reimbursement is currently under consideration in the Finance Department. Meanwhile, an additional requirement of Rs 63.30 lakh for library resources, museum display units, furnishing and other installations has been proposed for consideration by NEC. The proposal was recommended by the State Level Empowered Committee (SLEC).
Sema suggested that, if approved, the additional funding should be used to develop the facility’s interiors with a strong traditional character reflecting the heritage, architecture and cultural identity of the area.
He emphasised that the facility should serve the people, particularly students from Ungma and surrounding areas, and called for active community participation in its maintenance and sustainability.
Describing Ungma as one of Nagaland’s iconic villages, Sema also encouraged the village council to extend its community and charitable initiatives beyond the village to support comparatively less-developed communities and villages.
Later, Sema inspected the 17.155-km Dikhu Bridge–Amguri Road under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS-Roads). The project was sanctioned on August 5, 2019, at a cost of Rs 59.77 crore, with the full sanctioned amount released by the Ministry of DoNER. It was executed by M/s TTC_ANK_JV and completed on May 13, 2025, achieving 100% physical and financial progress.
The road is currently under maintenance, with the maintenance period extending until May 2029. Following inspection of the entire stretch, Sema found the workmanship satisfactory but noted landslides at three locations.
He directed the contractor to clear the landslides during the working season and construct suitable retaining structures using rock boulders and wire mesh to strengthen the affected stretches.
The Planning & Transformation Department, the nodal department for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and NEC in Nagaland, was directed by the Ministry to inspect projects across all districts to assess quality, implementation and timely completion.
Mokokchung is the first district covered under the inspection initiative, following which projects in other districts will also be inspected.
Sema further said Mokokchung is the top-performing district in Nagaland in terms of SDG performance and ranks fourth among 121 districts in the northeastern states.
(With DIPR inputs)
