Dimapur, Dec. 8 (EMN): Secretary of finance and land resources department, Y Kikheto Sema, visited various villages in Phek district to inspect the various projects under land resources department on December 4 and 5.
At Phokhungri village, the secretary was accompanied by deputy secretary of finance Silichum Sangtam; Phek district project officer Levi; Phokhungri administrative officials and other LRD officers. A community meeting was held at Phokhungri village which was also attended by leaders from Avankhu village.
With the proximity of international trade centre, Kikheto urged the bordering villagers to take advantage of the market and sell their specialised products instead of only buying from the other side of the country.
“If we only keep buying from them then there will be no economy for us,” he said.
Noting that geographical location of the villages make it difficult to transport their produce to other districts, he said climatically favourable crops like millet, jobs tears etc can be cultivated. Secretary also visited the Weaving unit and coffee plantation.
He said Nagaland is not only about Dimapur or Kohima but included all far flung areas and expressed optimism that the Act East Policy will reach the border areas too.
At Lutsame village, he held a meeting on December 5. Lutsame village is located near Shilloi Lake. The secretary expressed pain at the human habitation taking place very close to the Lake and said human habitation would spoil the pristine beauty of the Lake. He appealed the people not to engage in farming activities near the Lake but to preserve the natural beauty of the Lake to attract tourists.
He said tourists do not only mean those coming from outside India but included Indians and even Naga people. “If you preserve the natural beauty, then there would be future scope for tourism and help sustain to some extent,” he said.
He urged the LRD officers to coordinate with forest department and carry out valued added plantation activities for sustainability of the villagers while maintaining the natural beauty of the Lake.
On December 5, the officials also held meeting at Yisisotha village with the council members and their community. The officials also visited coffee nursery in Meluri.
He appealed the bordering villages to live in harmony with neighbouring people in Myanmar.
