In response to Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization (ENPO) seeking clarification from the state government on Rs. 300 crore package, state chief secretary Lalthara Friday said the special plan assistance package was neither in place of the demand for a separate state nor it was intended to soften ENPO stand on “Frontier Nagaland”.
In a statement, the chief secretary however said that ENPO memorandum dated November 25, 2011 and subsequent report of the high power committee on ENPO demand had sensitized both the state government and the centre about the development deficit in Eastern Nagaland areas prompting both to come out with the special package under the state’s annual plan to address development deficit.
Lathara also clarified that during the discussion held between state chief minister and the planning commission deputy chairman on June 26, the chief minister had requested the deputy chairman to provide plan fund for a special package for Eastern Nagaland comprising Mon, Tuensang, Longleng and Kiphire to address development deficit in these areas.
The planning commission had accordingly provided Rs. 300 crore special plan assistance package for Eastern Nagaland out of additional central resource to be provided by the ministry of finance which would be utilized for priority identified projects to be approved by planning commission, stated the chief secretary.
Lalthara also further mentioned that the additional central resource was a new component in the scheme of plan funding of the annual plan of the state and that this fund was being provided by the planning commission subject to availability of additional resource from the ministry of finance.
It may be mentioned that ENPO in a representation Saturday had given the state chief secretary 10 days time to clarify on the issue. ENPO had said that the way the state government has issued “repeated” statements in the local media about the Rs. 300 crore package had created an impression that the demand for “Frontier Nagaland” has been softened.
The organization also stated that an ENPO inquiry established that there were “no talks of economic package” as such during the recent meeting between Home Ministry and the state delegation led by chief minister Neiphiu Rio in Delhi.