Govt. replies to roads, rice, rural development queries

Dimapur, Feb. 25 (EMN): The 3rd session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly on February 25 had discussions on administrative and developmental issues. The DIPR issued on Monday updates about the day’s proceedings. During the proceedings, member Vikheho Swu raised a question seeking details about rural development (RD) blocks and the criteria that was required for creation of a new block. Minister for Urban development and Municipal Affairs Metsubo Jamir offered the list of them: Kohima has seven RD blocks; Dimapur six; Kiphire five; Longleng three; Mokokchung nine; Mon eight; Peren four; Phek eight; Tuensang nine; Wokha seven; and Zunheboto with eight RD blocks. The assembly was informed that the number of households in Kohima district was 25,108; Mokokchung 24,947; Mon 28,711; Tuensang 23,483; Zunheboto 19,214; Wokha 16,712; Phek 21,671; Dimapur 34,489; Kiphire 14,834; Longleng 14,314; and Peren has 14,471 households. The minister stated that the number of job card holders in Dimapur in total was 73,798; Kiphire 23,684; Kohima 54,040; Longleng 21,439; Mokokchung 35,653; Mon 39,911; Peren 27,099; Phek 34,152; Tuensang 48,455; Wokha 36,163; and Zunheboto has 37,785 job card holders. The grand total stands at 4,32,179, the assembly was told. The minister also listed the criteria that are required for creating new RD blocks. Swu informed the assembly that various criteria and parameters ‘was discussed and entrusted’ with the district planning and development boards to “adopt a holistic approach.” The development boards are ‘guided by certain criteria such as geographical compactness of the area and proximity’ of the village development board to block headquarter etc. The minister explained that creating/reorganising new blocks will be ultimately on ‘the larger interest of the public’ for accessibility and delivery of services. He added that other factors may be included with ‘proper justification,’ the assembly was told. Replying to a query about coal mining by legislator Yollow Konyak, the minister in-charge of Soil and Water Conservation and Geology and Mining, V Kashiho Sangtam informed that the state of Nagaland has its own coal policy which was amended in 2014. Further, the DIPR reported about a question that was stated to have put forward by opposition legislator Yitachu, understood to be about vigilance. Here, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio was stated to have informed that the assembly has not passed any vigilance Act. On a question raised by Vikheho Swu on the number of physicians and their ‘posting place,’ the DIPR stated. The minister in charge of Health and Family Welfare S Pangnyu Phom stated that there were 422 ‘sanctioned posts’ of “doctors” of various grade in the department, comprising 389 allopathic/modern medicine doctors and 33 dental surgeons, and six sanctioned posts of Ayush doctors. The details of the number of doctors in the Health and Family department, with their names, their present posting place and duration of stay was presented in hard copy for the members of the assembly. Replying to the starred question raised by opposition legislator Kuzholuzo Nienu, the minister in charge said 2000 metric tons of rice for ‘students’ hostel’ had been sanctioned and ‘dispatched to all students hostels in August 2018,’ the DIPR stated. Also replying to a query concerning the border area development program (BADP), deputy chief minister of Nagaland Y Patton said that “developmental activities” such as building infrastructure; education, health, agriculture and allied areas; capacity building and skill development etc., are being ‘taken along the Indo-Myanmar border.’ Replying to a question by legislator Moatoshi Longkumer concerning funds sanctioned for Nagaland including 10% lump sum provisions for development of Northeast states for 2018-19, the minister for Urban Development & Municipal Affairs Metsubo Jamir replied that the funds sanctioned for Nagaland during 2018-19 were ADB-921.68 lakh; SBM (U)-1339.69 lakh; Amrut-814.00 lakh; DAY-NULM-343.42 lakh; 10% lump sum on UDD-1203.7 lakh (six projects); MAD-1838.28 lakh (six projects); TPT-576.61 lakh; and PMAY-HFA-6384.71 lakh.