AWUMT unhappy with ‘desanctioning’ of NERPSIP scheme

Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, Sep. 26 (EMN): The All Ward Union Mokokchung Town (AWUMT) has expressed displeasure over the reported ‘desanctioning’ of the North Eastern Power System Improvement Project (NERPSIP) scheme in Mokokchung and declared that the state government would be held solely responsible should the project be desanctioned or face short closure.

AWUMT has questioned the state government for exhibiting little interest in the NERPSIP scheme in Mokokchung and zero political will for its success even after the AWUMT and the landowner mutually resolved the matter in the most amicable manner.

AWUMT stated that the Ministry of Power, government of India, had written to the government of Nagaland on September 20 for desanctioning of the North Eastern Power System Improvement Project (NERPSIP) scheme in Mokokchung district, which is being executed by the Powergrid, the reason being that the project which was sanctioned in 2018 could not be completed within the stipulated schedule of December 2021 due to land issue.

In this connection, AWUMT stated that they have met the landowner K Asangba Sangtam, former Member of Parliament (MP), on April 29, 2021, and mutually resolved the matter with him in the most amicable manner. Subsequently, AWUMT along with the chairman of Mokokchung district planning and development board (DPDB), district administration and other officials along with the chief engineer and subordinate officers from the Power department jointly visited the site and had a thorough discussion during DPDB meeting in the presence of Powergrid officials on June 23.

AWUMT added that the matter was flagged to the Power department to take up the matter with all seriousness to which the department assured to take up the matter in the State Land Acquisition Authority (SLAA) for purchase of the required land.

AWUMT, however, claimed that even after a lapse of more than two months, the state government had not initiated any tangible step to address the land issue.

AWUMT added that the district land settlement board also forwarded the matter of acquisition of land to the state commissioner as resolved on July 15 to take up the matter in the forthcoming state land acquisition authority (SLAA) meeting for approval. AWUMT wondered why there was so much hesitation and apprehension on the part of the government when it came to executing major developmental projects in the Mokokchung district.

Stating that it had done everything with their limited capacity, AWUMT has left the matter to the wisdom of the government to decide. AWUMT further declared loud and clear that the government would be held solely responsible and answerable to the people of Mokokchung should the project be desanctioned or face short closure.