EMN
Dimapur, November 28
A leader of the Naga Council of Dimapur has asked the deputy commissioner of Dimapur to immediately cancel what he said was a “patta” (land deed) issued to a person by the administration and alleged to be illegal. Vice president of the Naga Council Vikato Zhimomi issued a press release today explaining the state of charge and the reasons behind seeking cancellation of the said order. The Naga Council leader is of the view that “random allotment of government land to private individuals, mostly government officials with the result that most of the government colonies have disappeared in Dimapur and Kohima.”
According to the press release from Zhimomi, the deputy commissioner of Dimapur ‘gauged public sentiment’ and took prompt action in restraining one Chibeni Lotha “from undertaking further construction works at the disputed site in front of Manipuri Hotel, Hongkong Market.” The act of the deputy commissioner is “well appreciated,” he said. The said person having been issued the land lease by the competent authorities “is well documented and it brooks no argument,” the Naga Council leader said.
However, the press release said, “it’ll be a great mistake” for the government to “dwell on how the patta was issued since the issue here is not on whether correct departmental procedures was followed at the time of issuance of the patta.”
“The then DC may have exercised his prerogative in issuing the patta and the commissioner, Nagaland may have approved the DC’s order allotting the said plot to Ms. Chibeni Lotha as per departmental procedures but this does not mean the patta has not been issued under dubious circumstances,” the council’s vice president said. The Naga Council is of the opinion that the government order issuing the lease (patta no. 1019 measuring 1184 sq ft under block no. 6 mouza no. 1) to the said person “is illegal.” The reason is that the site obstructs public movement in a market place and also “violates the personal liberty of the old building owner in front of which the new building is coming up,” the council leader said.
“This has devalued the commercial value of the old, existing building as well as harming the interest of traders who have paid premium value for the prime shopping complex. This is misuse of government machinery for personal gain,” Zhimomi stated in the press release.
He was of the view that “devastating precedence has already been set on the issue of random allotment of government land to private individuals, mostly government officials with the result that most of the government colonies have disappeared in Dimapur and Kohima.”
The district administration of Dimapur is requested to cancel the said order immediately. “Naga Council cannot allow vested interest persons to circumnavigate the law under any circumstances,” Zhimomi added.
