Govt says give corrective suggestions
Principal Correspondent
Kohima, September 26
The apex civil societies in the State, including Naga Hoho, Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation) supported by mothers and students body, Naga Mothers Association, Naga Students’ Federation, political parties – NPF and Congress – as well as retired bureaucrats and politicians today disagreed with State government’s policy on Nagaland Special Development Zone (NSDZ). However, the government remained firm on its decision and asked all concerned to submit suggestions within next 30 days to the department.The views were expressed during the day-long State Level Consultative Meeting on NSDZs, Nagaland Investment Board (NIB) and NLTP Act held at SIRD Conference Hall here today.
Attending the meeting, NH, ENPO on behalf of itself, ENWO and ENSF, NMA, NSF alongside retired Justice HK Sema and other retired State bureaucrats expressed fear specially with regard to Clause 5, 6, 7 of the NSDZ Resolution concerning transfer of ownership of land and relaxation of ILP for investment along the foothill areas of the State.
They expressed that development and progress of the State is welcome, but they are unable to accept NSDZ in the present form as the clauses of the resolution infringe the constitutional rights (Article 371A) of the Naga people.
The speakers also expressed fear that if NSDZ is implemented in the present form, Nagas would also be minority within our land in the near future, which would not be acceptable to the present or future generation.
The speakers further expressed apprehension that relaxation of ILP would lead to overpowering of the local populace by the illegal immigrants like other neighbouring states of the country.
On the other hand, the ruling party of the state, NPF spoke in favour of NSDZ stating that the process has just begun but the contentious issues need to be sorted out.
However, the tribal bodies and NGOs and retired bureaucrats welcomed NIB for the progress of the State towards economic prosperity.
Responding to the doubts and queries of the house, Chief Minister TR Zeliang said, “The government has learned a lot from the discussions and will surely try to work out and march forward with amicable formula acceptable to the people of the State.”
He said NSDZ is only a vision document of the government, which was passed as a resolution in the State Assembly. “We have not spent even a penny on NSDZ,” he said while also clarifying that the State being centrally located in South East Asian countries, many developmental projects can be taken up along the foothill roads.
Zeliang also clarified that relaxation of ILP for outsiders for investment in the State would be for certain period but not totally doing away with the system.
He said the general public and civil societies have every right to point the loopholes in NSDZ resolutions passed by the Assembly while asserting that the government has the right to ask for corrective and positive suggestions if it is not acceptable.
He, therefore, said if the stakeholders are only rejecting NSDZ than they are against development and progress of the State or else they should submit corrective measures to the loopholes within 30 days.
Zeliang asserted that once such suggestions are submitted, the government through a government committee would review the entire resolution and come back to the civil societies with rules and regulations on NSDZ before placing it in the Assembly for enactment as a law.
Earlier in his opening remark, Zeliang said Nagaland needs investment and industrialization in order to catch up with others in this increasingly globalised and competitive world. He said without industrialization, the State’s incomes and revenues cannot grow significantly, and we cannot create enough employment opportunities for our educated youth, who now have to go outside the State in search of jobs and where they face various problems, including racial discrimination.
“Our existing townships and district Headquarters, located on the hilltops are not suitable for industrial growth and development,” he opined while stressing that “we need new townships that can cater to the needs of modern living”.
With this realization, Zeliang said the State government had come up with the concept of the Nagaland Special Development Zone.
Touching on the issue of the NSDZ resolution adopted by the Assembly on March 24, the Chief Minister clarified that the core purpose of the resolution is to build an economic infrastructure in an imaginative way.
Stating that the resolution is merely an announcement of the policy, Zeliang said the State government is prepared to modify words in the resolution so that we achieve our common goals of economic empowerment.
He also asserted that “our land cannot be sold to outsiders and the rights of land and resources will continue to be vested in the Nagas”.
Zeliang informed that the State government will have a thorough and comprehensive relook at the land laws, rules and regulations of the State in consultation with all organisations concerned. The Chief Minister said land in the NSDZ area will not be transferred to any outsiders on sale.
He also clarified that the State government is not scrapping the ILP but only relaxing it. The Chief Minister said, “We should not be too apprehensive of people coming to our State for genuine business and investment purposes, but should facilitate the presence of investors and others connected with economic operations from outside as it best suits our economic interests.” Zeliang said the relaxation will not be blanket but conditional to creation of wealth in favour of the State.
He further announced that NIB is to be set up under his chairmanship to provide a mechanism for single-widow clearance of investment proposals received by the State government. Zeliang said this is part of the overall strategy to promote and facilitate investment environment in Nagaland, both in the proposed NSDZ as well as in other parts of the State.
He said this special mechanism appears necessary in view of the fact that no substantial investment has come to the State in spite of the attractive incentives provided under the State Industrial Development Policy as well as the Central government’s North East Industries and Investment Policy.
The NIB will be set up to avoid red-tape normally associated with project clearance in India, both at the Centre and in the States, he added.
Chaired by Chief Secretary Banuo Z. Jamir, power point presentation on NSDZ & NIB was made by Commissioner & Secretary for Planning & Coordination Mhonbemo Patton and on NLTP Act by Excise Commissioner Moangwati Aier. Principal Secretary & Development Commissioner R. Benchilo Thong tendered the vote of thanks.
