43 projects completed, 146 still ongoing in Nagaland, says Imna Along

• Covid-19, monsoon caused delay
• Land issues disturbs execution of work
• Most of the incomplete projects still within the stipulated time-frame

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Aug. 14 (EMN): The minister for Higher and Technical Education and Tribal Affairs, Temjen Imna Along, said that 43 projects sanctioned during 2018-2019 were completed by the department of Planning and Co-ordination, while the projects sanctioned during 2019-2020 with respect to the same department are still ongoing.

Responding to an unstarred question during the sixth session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly in Kohima on August 13, the minister said that 82 projects sanctioned during 2018-2019 and 64 projects sanctioned during 2019-2020 were yet to be completed.

According to him, there were 'many reasons' for the incomplete projects.

Along said that projects involving civil works/constructions were given a period of two to three years for completion based on the nature of the project, and most of the incomplete projects were still within the stipulated time-frame.

He also maintained that the delay in the execution of works could be attributed to climate as the state falls within the region which experiences “heavy monsoon”, with a 'working season' of six months only.

The Covid-19 pandemic has also contributed to the delay in completion of projects as most of the skilled migrant workers migrated to their native places, the minister stated.

Along added that in some cases, land issues also contributed to the delay in the execution of work.

The multi-purpose hall at Yaongyimsen in Mokokchung, fishery at Shokhuvi in Dimapur, tribal hostel at Upper PWD colony in Kohima, etc., are some of the completed projects.

Construction of a multi-purpose hall-cum-badminton stadium at Bhandari town in Wokha, auditorium at Government Kiphire Higher Secondary School in Kiphire, integrated farming at Jalukie in Peren etc., are some of the ongoing projects.

He stated that the Tribal Affairs department was created on August 5, 2019. As per the government notification, he said, the schemes/projects, sanctioned and ongoing prior to August 5, will be implemented by the Planning and Co-ordination department.