Fund constraints hamper development at Supermarket

Our Reporter
Dimapur, Nov. 15 (EMN): A month after the felling of trees at Supermarket in Dimapur, the area remains desolate and bereft of developmental activities.

Speaking to Eastern Mirror, senior executive officer, Development Authority of Nagaland (DAN) Noleto Visa, said they have not been able to carry out any work due to ‘fund limitations’.

Visa revealed that around INR 7 lakh was generated from the sale of the trees that were cut down; however INR 5.5 lakh was spent on related expenditure and INR 1 lakh was handed over as forest royalty.

 “We thought with the remaining amount we will start with the uprooting but realised that it will affect the retaining wall which will involve extra cost. If we start uprooting on the other side of the root, it will affect the newly constructed drains which will again cost us more. So we have put the work on hold as we have no fund,” he said.

He also disclosed that after the felling of the trees, the next plan was to uproot the stumps. However, the case of Ronika Miachieo and Amos Ezung, who were given the permit for the project, came to light.

‘So the next plan could not take place’, he added.

He said that the surrounding area needs to be taken care of first before proceeding with the beautification work. 

Visa maintained that ‘if the infrastructure, which includes uprooting, and the retaining wall work are completed, subsequently the master plan will take place’.  

“If it was teamwork with the DAN, we could have taken up even in the absence of the duo — Miachieo and Ezung — but it was their proposal which was in principle approved by the government so the fund will also be in their name,” he said.

On further query, he said that DAN was also not detailed about their plan.

‘Though the duo had verbally shared their interest in taking up the project once, it was not apprised in writing so the proposal was sent without the knowledge of DAN,’ he said.

For the sanctioning of the fund, he said it is for the government to decide.

Acknowledging that many organisations have shown interest to take up the project, he said ‘DAN cannot immediately allocate the work as a piecemeal as it has to have a proper plan’.

With no funds with DAN, he said they will have to wait for the district administration for their plan.

As uncertainty looms over how long it will take to kick start the project, he expressed hope that by the end of the year, they will collectively come up with a master plan.