Kohima: A consultative meeting of nine Naga tribes of Nagaland resolved to give a time frame till September 30 to the Nagaland Government to begin construction of the four lane foothill road, failing which, the public would execute the road construction through their own means.
According to sources here on Sunday the representatives from nine tribes namely Ao, Sumi, Lotha, Konyak, Khiamniungan, Yimchunger, Phom, Sangtam and Chang converged on Saturday at Dimapur to deliberate on the issues related to the foothill connectivity, which the State Government assured would be made functional at the earliest.
Asserting foothill road was an issue concerning the whole of Nagas, tribal unions present at the meeting pledged financial, physical and emotional support or in any other way.
The meeting also deliberated on certain confusion arising out of the construction of the futuristic four-lane Tizit (in Mon district)-Dimapur-Khelma (in Peren district) foothill road and the current Dimapur-Tizit foothill connectivity in question.
The meeting was unanimous in their decision not to demand any land compensation from the state government.
The tribes also resolved to appeal to all Naga underground groups not to demand any deduction/tax of any form fund allocated for construction of the foothill road.
A resolution was also adopted to constitute a standing committee at the earliest, comprising of representatives from all the nine tribes, to monitor and supervise issues related to the foothill road.
The meeting also resolved that the foothill road should not be politicized in any form and that the construction should be initiated within the definition of the “foothill road.” Western Sumi Hoho (WSH) president said resolution has already been passed not to demand any land compensation within their jurisdiction.
Assuring that WSH was ever ready to provide any assistance to solve the road connectivity issue, the President also asked the Ao Senden (Hoho) to regard the issue as a problem of all Nagas living in foothill areas.
Representative of Lower Lotha Range Public Organization (LLRPO) representing 72 villages under border area suggested that an appeal be immediately made to the state government to initiate action to ensure that the foothill road was implemented immediately.
Dimapur Konyak Union said the foothill road construction, when commenced should begin from both ends simultaneously- from Tizit on one side and Dimapur on the other. (UNI)
