PHE Minister L Dikho inspects landslide site
Source: The Sangai Express
Senapati, October 25 2020:
PHE Minister Losii Dikho inspected the landslide affected area of the NH-2 at Khongnem Thana today.
The Minister was accompanied by officials of BIPL, Ministry of Road Transport, PWD and district DRDA and leaders of the district's CSOs including the Naga People's Organization, Senapati District Students Association and Senapati District Women's Association.
Transport officials who were on the site apprised the Minister that they were "ready for restoration of works as household survey and compensation had been settled when Additional Chief Secretary (Works) visited the previous day".
As the Highway is a major lifeline for people in the State, the Minister instructed the officials concerned to begin work as soon as the rain stops.
He also discussed feasibility of using an alternate route passing Karong Biisho in the meantime when the restoration work is in progress.
During the visit, he talked to the villagers of Khongnem Thana.
Chairman of the village urged him and the Government for early compensation to the villagers whose lands are affected by the construction/restoration work of the Highway.
The chairman also urged the Minister to improve the water supply system in the village.
Representatives of the affected families, whose lands have been taken for construction/restoration of the Highway also appealed the Minister and Government for early compensation.
They won't own a house before the Government compensates them, said a representative adding they had vacated their houses in the larger interest of the public considering the importance of the Highway.
Losii Dikho expressed gratitude and thanked the villagers for their understanding and cooperation and assured all possible measures and assistance.
He stated that the Government is putting in its best efforts to restore the sunken portion of the Highway at the earliest possible and assured the villagers that he would send staff of PHED to conduct a survey for a water supply project at the village.
After the Minister left, the restoration work began in the evening.