It is now almost two months since the Chief Minister of Nagaland, who also holds the Finance portfolio, announced in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly that an amount of Rs.1.7 crore has been sanctioned for maintenance of the Dr. Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital (IMDH) Road. Despite the measly amount sanctioned for such an important road in Mokokchung as the hospital road, we were grateful that at least “something is better than nothing.” Judging by the prevailing condition of the hospital road, it is observed that Rs.1.7 crore would never be enough to actually repair the road satisfactorily. Having said that, it is amusing to see that the sanctioned amount has not been “released” as yet despite the Chief Minister’s announcement. Perhaps, it projects just how phony the proceedings of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly sessions are. There is no honour, dignity and sacrosanct and the proceedings are mere hogwash, a pretentious affair without any principle – for if there was any sanctity, the sanctioned amount would have been released the very next day itself, one can argue. It is such a shame that we have a government that functions in this criminally slow manner. Now, what possibly could be the reasons for the delay in the process? Red tapism in all probability. Redundant procedures stalling and hindering actions that needs to be executed swiftly and immediately.
Also, this episode is another evidence of lack of transparency in governance. Why is it that the sanctioned amount has not been released? As per the four youth organizations, the Urban Development Department Office in Mokokchung has stated that the fund was not released. But nobody knows why it was not released. Or who is not releasing. Or when it will be released. Or if it will be released at all. There is a possibility that the fund might actually have been released discreetly. Perhaps, a lot of oiling palms could be going on behind the scene. Sooner or later, it will be brought to light as to why the fund has not been ‘released’ till today, hopefully.
It also goes without saying that the ‘normal’ practice of deducting certain percentages of the sanctioned amount by various shameless elements will be practiced. Of the Rs.1.7 crores, one wonders how much would be actually spent on maintaining the road after all the cuts and deductions at various levels are made by the bloody leeches lurking in every nook and cranny of the establishment, from the top down to the bottom.
People generally talk about corruption and all but seldom do they do anything to put a check on it. This project actually presents itself as an opportunity to experiment with some anti-corruption measures. The amount is quite small and so every rupee of it can be calculated and accounted for. If the people of Mokokchung cannot check this project, it is best to stop talking about good roads or corruption and go home with tails between legs.