Morung Express News
Kohima | October 17
The contractor of the ongoing National Highway (NH)-2 from Lerie Junction to Mao Gate road construction is likely to appear before the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench on October 17 after the Court gave the direction on October 12.
The contractor, among others is expected to be questioned on progress of the work.
Hearing a suo moto Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the ongoing road construction along the stretch on October 12, the contractor’s counsel submitted that new equipments had been purchased in “order to expedite the progress of the work.”
However, the Bench gave the direction for the contractor’s (M/S Fortune Groups) appearance after seeing no “improvement on the condition of the road along the stretch of the road covered by the contract.”
“In that view of the matter, the Contractor is directed to appear before this Court in person on 17.10.2022 at 10.30 am sharp,” stated the Court’s order issued by the Division Bench comprising of Justices LS Jamir and Songkhupchung Serto.
Meanwhile, during the hearing on October 12, the Additional Advocate General (AG) Nagaland had produced before the Court, a letter dated October 11, written by the Revenue Officer, Kohima.
Among others, the letter stated that there were no hindrances for road repair and maintenance work along NH- 39 (New NH-02) Kohima-Mao Road by any village, groups, organisation or individuals.
Some concerns were raised by villagers pertaining to construction of new culverts on grounds that water drained from the new culverts would damage irrigation canals and paddy fields downstream, it said.
It further noted that the State Government has issued a notification prohibiting movement of heavy vehicles beyond 3 axle along the National Highways from Dimapur- Khuzama for one month from October 13 to November 13.
“Movement of vehicles along the Highway including commercial heavy vehicles is being monitored with the assistance of Traffic Police,” it added.
The Sub- Divisional Officer (Civil), Jakhama in a letter the Deputy Commissioner, Kohima on September 30 also informed that the SDO along with Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO) and the Project Manager, Fortune Group carried out inspection along the entire stretch of the Highway from Phesama and Khuzama on September 22.
“Due to slow progress of the work on the ground it was impressed upon the Project Manager, Fortune Group, the need to expedite works by roping in additional machinery and manpower,” it said.
The SDO also informed there is no opposition or hindrance from any of the villages, groups, organisation or individuals with regard to the regular road maintenance or repairing work.
The only issue was at a location in Viswema, where fresh land excavation works for construction of a new culvert had been halted due to concerns raised by the villagers fearing the release of water could damage paddy fields and irrigation canals downstream and the matter has been endorsed to the Village Council, the SDO’s letter added.
It must be note here that the Amicus Curiae’s report to the Court on September 28, among others, had informed that the stretch is dotted with potholes of various shapes and sizes and the overlay in many places are ‘peeling off and damaged.’ It also apprised that there were several landowners issues as well as random parking of heavy vehicles.
Thereafter, apart from direction to the contractor to mobilise adequate machinery and workforce, it directed the Additional AG to apprise the Court about the steps taken by the State Authority/State Administration with regard to landowners’ issues and random parking of heavy vehicles.
The Additional AG submission on October 12 was in response to the directive.
However, the Bench directed the Additional AG to take instructions as to “whether the issue with the land-owners has been settled with regard to the shoulder-cutting of the roads as directed by the Court in the earlier orders.”
Source: https://morungexpress.com/nh-2-project-contractor-directed-to-appear-before-hc-bench-today
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