Naga occupied areas do not require fencing, says Dy. CM TR Zeliang

DIMAPUR —  Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland, TR Zeliang on Friday said that the Naga-occupied areas along the Indo-Myanmar border do not require fencing.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Republic Day programme at DDSC Stadium in Dimapur, amid Centre’s decision to scrap the Free Movement Regime receiving backlash in the state,  TR Zeliang maintained that there might be some areas in states like Manipur where border security system or fencing might be required due to illegal activities and other issues.

However, “in the Naga occupied areas, we do not require fencing,” he added.

When asked if Article 371 (A) is hindering development in the state, he replied that the Article generally protects the rights of the indigenous Naga people but some individuals misuse it.

Taking the example of road construction projects, he said that when the government tries to build roads, some individuals cause obstruction by creating their own rates for land compensation, citing Article 371 (A), and these issues cannot be controlled by the village or town councils.

On the state government’s recent announcement that it would terminate the services of ‘illegal appointees,’ he maintained that if any illegally appointed employees are detected in any department, their services would be terminated.

Earlier during the Republic Day programme, Zeliang, who is also in-charge of National Highways, highlighted various activities in regard to the road and transport sector.

He said that over the past two to three years, 980 km of roads has been strengthened and upgraded, and 240 km of roads repaired across the state, under various schemes and inititives. Another 944 km of roads have been taken up for construction and upgrade to improve the road network in the state.

Zeliang also said that relevant rules for the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2003 have been framed, and the state government is committed to holding the urban local body elections soon with 33% reservation for women.