State chief minister, TR Zeliang, has disclosed that many major road projects were in the offing, saying once implemented Nagaland would become the main hub of connectivity for the North Eastern states with the South Asian countries.
Speaking at the two-day ‘Lao-ong Mo’, the post harvest festival of the Konyaks, at local ground here on Friday, the chief minister said these prospect and potential would boost trade and tourism sector and would immensely contribute towards the progress of the Nagas.
Highlighting the major tourism and road projects currently under implementation, Zeliang urged upon the gathering to cooperate for completion of the development projects within stipulated time.
The chief minister said during the recently held North East Connectivity Summit at Kohima it was resolved to create North East Ring Road. He said the Konyak land would play a major since it was bordering with two neighbouring states — Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in India and on the other side with Myanmar. “This will created new opportunity for trade, commerce and tourist destination, which the Nagas must be prepared to take full advantage of it,” Zeliang added. Maintaining that building of good road in the state was the topmost priority of the government, Zeliang assured that if the landowners did not create problem the state government can change the face of Nagaland through proper road connectivity within two-three years time.
He said the state government was determined to protect Article 371(A) which ensured landownership rights. However, Zeliang said that there were some road schemes like SRDP where there was no provision for land compensation, except for building and damages of other properties during the course of implementing projects.
As such, he said people should understand and be reasonable and allow development to take place.
The chief minister disclosed that he had already held a meeting with the deputy commissioners and tribal hohos of five districts — Mokokchung, Longleng, Zunheboto, Phek and Mon with regard to land compensation issue on SRDP road projects. At the meeting, he said all the participants had agreed to cooperate with the government and allow road projects to continue.
Further, the chief minister also disclosed that he has already accorded emergency fund of Rs.5 crore for maintenance of Namtola-Mon road and the work has been allotted to three firms.
“People have every right to complain if the work is not executed as the specifications or not completed in time. If such complaint is genuine the government will take action,” Zeliang said.
The chief minister also said that he would convene a meeting of all concerned departments, tribals hohos and other stakeholders next month to discuss and work out the methods for improvement of roads in the state. Besides, Zeliang said he was trying to bring some foreign investment for buildings some important roads between Myanmar and Nagaland.
Tourist circuit: In order to boost tourism, the chief minister said that the state government has started developing tourist circuit in the state under Swadesh Dharshan in phase manner.
First phase covers Peren, Kohima and Wokha districts; Second Phase covers Mokokchung, Tuensang and Mon districts while in the third phase Zunheboto, Longleng and Kiphire districts would taken up, the chief minister said. Under the scheme, he said the centre has already accorded about Rs. 250 crore.
Assuring that the state government would maintain transparency and accountability while implementing developmental projects and schemes, Zeliang said the state government, towards this end, has initiated the process of displaying name of department, implementing agency/contractor, amount sanctioned, period of completion etc in all projects site.
Naga issue: The chief minister said that resolution of the six-decade old Naga political problem was a matter of utmost urgency for state government as it has a direct bearing on the lives of each and every Naga.
“I am happy to see all Naga Political Groups coming together with one approach and one vision towards political dialogue for permanent settlement,” Zeliang said while extending his appreciation to the recent talks between the working committee of NNPGs and Interlocutor RN Ravi in New Delhi. He said that 70 years of political struggle was long enough, saying Nagas have encountered untold suffering because of the long drawn Indo-Naga political imbroglio and the Naga political has become an obstacle to progress of the Nagas.
In this regard, the chief minister appealed to all the Nagas to extend fullest support to the peace process and lend continuous prayer for early settlement.
The chief minister said that the stability of the state government was of paramount importance for bringing speedy development in the state and early settlement of the Naga political problem.
With this objective in mind, Zeliang said he managed to form government without opposition thinking it would invoke more unity among the legislators to work jointly for uplift of the people.
However, he said it was unfortunate that certain intervening events disrupted the arrangement due to internal rift within the NPF party that brought confusion in the mind of the common people. “I am extremely sorry for all these happenings and I request you all to bear with us,” the chief minister stated.
Saying NPF party was a big family and such discords and rifts were bound to take place, the chief minister, however, said the internal party conflict should not go up to the extent of destabilizing the normal functioning of the duly elected government, which was giving all efforts to work for the betterment of the state. He therefore appealed to all Nagas not to be misled by false rumours and propaganda, but remain steadfast by reposing faith in his government.
Further, the chief minister also advised the gathering not to mix religion with politics while referring to allegations that he was in nexus with RSS and inclined to Heraka and was going to BJP.
The chief minister also added that the NPF-led DAN government would continue to maintain its stand of “regional in content and national in outlook”. He said that all achievements made in the four years of his chief ministership were due to good relationship with NDA government at the centre.
However, the chief minister lamented that in the last 52 years of statehood, Nagaland could receive only Rs 28,000 crores from the centre, which was only a cost of one bridge or flyover in Assam or other states in comparison.
Konyak Union (Myanmar) president, Khotai Konyak, who graced the occasion as guest of honour, said that the Eastern Konyaks (Myanmar Konyak) and Konyak of Nagaland (India) were bound by blood as they belonged to one family. He, however, lamented that the Konyaks were forcefully divided by artificial boundary between India and Myanmar without their knowledge and consent forcing them to live under two different identities — Konyak of India and Konyak of Myanmar.
In this regard, he urged the chief minister to take up the issue with both the Indian Government and Myanmar government to construct road and provide development.
Other highlights of the ‘Lao-ong’ festival included showcasing the Herald of Lao-ong by Longwa village, KU unit wise competition in Haoh Peishup te yang phei metpu, Venglah Keppu, Ngo Shuppu, Haoh te ong pu, Pho, Jee te ball phei shappu, Pei phei shuppu, Pe sham me weihpu, Pongvong Vungpu and Wu-shupu for males and Kumtuk yaopu, Tah sham shupu, Yeangshaopu and Lik hokpu for females.
Other dignitaries who attended the festival included home minister Y Patton, Minister (R&B) Nicky Kire, power minister Kipili Sangtam, Denwang Wangshu, MLA from Arunachal Pradesh, Naga Students Union Arunachal Pradesh president Nokchai and other administrative officers led by DC Mon and SP Mon.
The two-day Konyak Lao-ong festival celebrated on the theme ‘Enculturation’ culminated with the Lao-ong Talent Nite.
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