NCP questions DAN developmental claims

From our Correspondent

DIMAPUR, June 28: The deplorable condition of roads in almost all 11 districts of Nagaland including the commercial hub, Dimapur has brought into sharp focus the developmental claims of the DAN government and the comments of Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, at the Indian Roads Congress meeting held in Kohima in May this year.

On May 31 last, Rio in his address at the inaugural session of Indian Roads Congress 197th Mid-Term Council Meeting viewed roads as the face of the nation that reflects the level of development and standard of living and also observed that roads give the first impression and image about the government and its people.

Recalling Rio’s speech, State NCP president and secretary general (NCP Northeast), Neiba Ndang, who visited the site of the collapsed bridge at Punglwa on the State Highway connecting Peren district via Medziphema, on Thursday, said the deplorable State of the Peren road and the collapsed bridge reflected the developmental claims and image of the DAN government.

Hitting out at the government for failing to provide decent and motorable roads to the people despite huge funds from numerous central agencies and sources, the NCP president said it was a shame that most of the State Highways in Nagaland are worse than rural roads in other States.

Ndang said beyond Peren district headquarter, the roads in Tening and Nsong area are a nightmare where even bullock carts cannot ply. “Has the government forgotten that Tening sub-division is also a part of Nagaland? Does the minister, minister-in charge and elected representatives of Peren district have any concern for the plight of the villagers of this area, many of whom trudge miles on foot carrying sick patients and supplies because vehicles cannot ply on these so-called roads?” Ndang asked.

On the hundreds of adhoc and casual workers and labourers employed in various departments including PWD (Roads & Bridges), the NCP leader said that though such adhoc workers are on the  payroll yet they are never seen on the roads to tend to minor repairs, filling of potholes and other maintenance works.

“Most of these adhoc workers (khalasis, bidars and others) are employed in the houses of theirs bosses and department officers engaged in works like baby sitting, cooking, splitting firewood. The crores of money spent by the government in their salary are wasted”,  Ndang said.

He also alleged that most of the trucks of various government departments are misused by officers for their own personal works like carrying paddy, construction materials, firewood and others.

The state NCP president also said that most of the districts share the same plight with regard to deplorable roads.

On the government’s claim of 100 per cent electrification in the State, Ndang said, “What use is it when you have electric wire connection and bulbs in your home but no power supply?”

Stating that the Peren road via Medziphema is the lifeline of Northern Zeme villages, Ndang said that the government and department in-charge should attend to the collapsed bridge near Sainik School, Punglwa on priority basis and not kept in cold storage as is the usual norm.  On the alternative road including a temporary wooden bridge constructed near the collapsed bridge, Ndang said the route is not motorable during incessant rains and that the temporary bridge could be washed away anytime, as was the case some couple of days back.

It may be mentioned the old bridge over the Nneureu river, some 17km from Medziphema, reportedly collapsed after a heavily loaded GREF truck crossed the bridge on June 7 last.

Tripura Congress, CPI-M trade charges of wooing militants

Agartala, June 28: With assembly polls in Tripura drawing closer, the ruling Left Front and opposition Congress are accusing each other of using militants to sway votes. Leaders of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) claimed that separatist outfits, aided by a section of opposition leaders, were conspiring to oust the Left Front from power in State Assembly polls scheduled for February. Rejecting the allegations, the Congress  said it was the government which was using militants for the polls, by withdrawing 1,300 criminal cases against 736 surrendered guerrillas. “The CPI-M and Chief Minister Manik Sarkar are patronising banned militant outfits for political interests,” Tripura Congress president Sudip Roy Barman told reporters. “According to the guidelines of union home ministry on rehabilitation of surrendered guerrillas, the state government cannot take away cases of heinous crime against any extremist or surrendered rebel,” he said. “Outlawed ATTF (All Tripura Tiger Force) supremo Ranjit Debbarma and NLFT (National Liberation Front of Tripura) leader Utpal Reang belong to CPI-M leaders’ families. A senior CPI-M leader met them in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka several times to get their support,” said Leader of Opposition Ratan Lal Nath.  Rubbishing the Congress claims, the CPI-M reiterated its allegation that the opposition party was forging alliance with the militant outfits for electoral gains. The CPI-M said several Congress leaders were helping strengthen militant groups and create trouble ahead of the polls. After the arrest of five NLFT militants and recovery of Rs 2.5 million in cash, gadgets and secret documents, Tripura Police last week appealed to all surrendered militants and youth not to heed the call of separatists. “The militants, who were arrested from a house on the outskirts of the city, were carrying money and electronic devices to pass on to their outfits in Bangladesh to procure arms. They have revealed vital information about the terrorists’ possible activities in the coming months,” a polices spokesman told reporters here. In what is a first for Tripura, a statement from the state police headquarters said: “It has been revealed that NLFT extremists are engaged in fresh recruitment of innocent tribal youths from interior areas.” (IANS)

Tuki urges NHPC officials to amend policies of ongoing power projects

NEW DELHI, June 28: Chief Minister Nabam Tuki on Thursday urged the officials of National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) to amend the proposed policies for Recruitment, Resettlement and Rehabilitation(R&R) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of its ongoing Power projects in Arunachal Pradesh. Of late, NHPC has been into troubled waters with resistance emanating from various cross sections of the society against its projects in the State. The ambitious Lower Subansiri and the Dibang Multi-Purpose projects are more or less stalled due to stiff resistance from the people.  

Attending a high level review meeting with NHPC officials on Thursday afternoon, Tuki took detailed stock of the status of the Subansiri Lower Hydro Electric Project (HEP), Tawang-I HEP, Tawang II HEP and the Dibang Multipurpose HEP Projects.

“There is a communication gap between the power developers and the people. People of Arunachal are very simple. If they are properly made aware of the advantages of the projects including security of the local communities,  they would never oppose,” Tuki observed while hinting at the lackadaisical attitude of the executing agencies in taking the people, especially those affected by the projects, into confidence and winning their faith.

While almost all construction works on the Subansiri Lower Project has been stopped, the Dibang project is facing hiccups at the Public Hearing stage.

The Chief Minister said he has full faith in PSU’s such as NHPC and NEEPCO and expressed hope that they would always work towards safeguarding the greater public concerns. He also suggested that besides implementing power projects in the State, the PSUs should chip in creation of infrastructure as and where necessary. In this regard, he Sought NHPC’s initiative to build tunnels on roads in Anini area that would help cut-short the distance.

“You have the expertise in constructing huge tunnels. Why don’t you use it and help us in construction of road infrastructure?” he urged.

Meanwhile, expressing grave concern over the stalemate in execution of the Subansiri Lower Project due to opposition from Assam  base anti-dam groups, the Chief Minister reiterated his doubts over the intentions of the protestors  particularly KMSS and said they were trying to hijack the development agenda of UPA in which power has been given highest priority.

“Floods are being modulated besides other benefits coming from the projects. I have no problems and rather happy if a neighbouring State benefits. The anti-dam elements have been routinely holding economic blockades which are causing a lot of hardship to the populace of Arunachal Pradesh. Who will take responsibility of the sky rocketing prices of essential commodities in the wake of economic blockades,” Tuki said and sought an early solution to the problems. On his part, he assured the State Government would address all pending issues at its end at the earliest.

To a request made by NHPC for carrying on basin studies the CM observed that basin studies are time consuming and should not be done separately. They should be simultaneously carried out with the project works, he added.

Earlier, NHPC CMD AL Srivastava made a detailed presentation on the status of the power projects in the State and answered various queries in the Interactive Session. This was stated in a press release.