HAFLONG, Oct 18 - The NC Hills Indigenous Students� Forum (NCHISF) has warned that if the Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) fails to keep its promise regarding repair and maintenance of the Jatinga-Harangajao portion of NH-54 E within October 31, it would be compelled to launch an indefinite NH-54 E blockade from November 1.
There have been a series of agitations by the people of Dima Hasao district demanding immediate completion of NH-54 E which is the lifeline of entire southern Assam and the neighbouring States like Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram. However, the NHAI authority in alleged connivance with the road construction companies has made the lives of people hell as the construction of this vital road has been left half-done at many locations.
Moreover, the standard of construction works has also been compromised with, it has been alleged, causing immense inconvenience to the people of Dima Hasao and southern Assam.
The NCHISF organised NH-54 E blockade from September 14 and compelled the Dima Hasao district administration to hold a meeting in the presence of representatives of NHAI, construction companies and the NCHISF, which resolved that the portion in question (Jatinga-Harangajao) which was earlier allotted to the JKM company, would now be allotted to HCC, as the works done by the HCC in Dima Hasao was satisfactory.
Of late, it has come to light that the HCC is contemplating to allot the works to other contractors of �zero� reputation as a sub-contract, forcing the people of Dima Hasao to smell a deep-rooted conspiracy.
Earlier too, the feeder road from Jatinga to Haflong was at first given to Simplex and later to others as sub-contract, as a result of which the Jatinga-Haflong feeder road could not be completed even after several years.
Conscious citizens of Haflong, while expressing surprise, argued as to why the NHAI cannot take stern action against the defaulting firms who have failed miserably to complete the works on time. The NHAI�s inaction against such companies, which has made the lives of the local people miserable, has compelled them to suspect an unholy nexus between the NHAI and the companies like NKC or JKM.
