Kohima: The Public Works Department of Nagaland issued a formal correction on Wednesday regarding two stalled road projects in Noklak district. Officials shut down the 14.54 kilometer Noklak to Thonoknyu route and the 31 kilometer Jendang Saddle-Noklak-Pangsha Phase-II project on an as-is, where-is basis. Government officials previously told the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly that land compensation disputes triggered the work stoppages.
The department now admits those claims were wrong. The Chief Engineer stated the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources scheme ceased in December 2017. The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region pulled the plug on that funding years ago. Officials closed the projects to stop duplicate efforts and clear the way for fresh state or federal funding streams.
Contractors met with the Khiamniungan Students' Union on October 28 to set the record straight. They clarified that land issues were not the primary driver for the delays. The contractor expressed regret for citing land disputes while requesting more time to finish the work. The department remains committed to the region. They noted that Noklak is a strategic frontier asset and said they are taking priority measures to finish the remaining construction work.
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