Nagaland CM urges officials to judiciously utilise funds, expresses hope of power surplus in 5 years

Our Correspondent
Kohima, March 24 (EMN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Thursday urged government officials to judiciously utilise funds, in his concluding remark on the last day of 11th session of the 13th NLA in Kohima.

With reference to the expenditure in the state, he said non-development is allocated 51.91 % while 19.60 % is pension, debt servicing is 13.93 %, other recurring expenditure is 7.36% with only 5.87% for development expenditure (state plan) and developmental activities while investment in GRF and CSF is 1.33 %. He therefore asked the government servants to ponder if they could do justice to the public with only 5.87% allocated for development.

Speaking about the chief minister’s micro-financing scheme in the Agri and allied sector and MSMEs, he said it will boost young entrepreneurs, including the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (Sarfaesi) Act.

He informed that the Cabinet would discuss universal health insurance for all the citizens of the state and expressed hope that it should be implementable by September 2022.

He also clarified that the state government is not codifying but documenting and compiling customary laws, considering the similarities and differences among the various tribes so that it can be printed and also reprinted in local dialects. This, he said, is in line with Article 371(A) of the Constitution of India to upkeep the customary practices of the state.

Power surplus in four-five years

Rio maintained that purchasing power is huge for the state, incurring INR 445.12 crore while the revenue collection is only INR 208 crore, with a shortfall of INR 237 crore. However, he exuded hope that the state will improve in future as it has already improved by INR 33 crore. The department is installing pre-paid meter systems in Dimapur (10,000 already installed and another 10,000 installation ongoing) and Kohima (10,000 already installed) as well while the department is also aggressively keeping a check on revenue loss through power theft etc. He also stated that in three-five years’ time, the state could produce hydro power projects with a calculation of 321.8 megawatt power. He added that this would make Nagland self-sufficient as the requirement by four-five years will go by 250-300 megawatt and the state will have a power surplus by 100 megawatt.

Forest management in phase-wise manner

Rio also informed that under Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), forest management in 91 villages have already been covered out of 185 villages to be taken up in the entire state. He added that a monitoring mechanism under the project is put in place with intensive field visits. He also highlighted that under the KfW development bank, a German scheme, 70 villages will be taken up in the state and will be implemented phase-wise.

Should wind up or take to court for settlement of Tuli paper mill

With regard to the Nagaland Pulp & Paper Company Ltd (NPPCL) at Tuli in Mokokchung district, he stated that the company had failed owing to poor management by Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited (HPCL) leaving a huge impact on the employees and the state as a partner. He asserted that the state should pursue winding it up on time, and it should be decided whether to discuss with HPCL to have a deadline to terminate it or go to court for settlement.

 “I don’t think we should share the burden, because it is not our fault,” he said. Further he informed that the unpaid salary is about INR 27 crore.

 Pointing out the drought-like situation last year, he maintained that help was sought for buying rice to distribute in difficult areas. He said the Agriculture department was told that the government could extend necessary help to the people, be it seeds or some other support to have a better harvest this year.

With regard to the housing for all issue in Chozuba by the local MLA, the chief minister informed that there was a problem in validation of IFSC code in Nagaland State Cooperative Bank at Chozouba.

He said the issue was resolved and assured that the selected beneficiaries would receive it soon.

Expressing concern about un-banked blocks in the state, Rio stated that the possible arrangements are being taken up so that people will not be deprived of banking facilities.

High court construction; contractor to start work

With regard to the ongoing High Court construction, he informed that because of the CBI case, the construction was put for hold for a long time but the contractors will be allowed to work. He also informed that the government will look for funding. He said a proposal was forwarded to the ministry and he exuded hope for a positive response, and if not to find some other source of revenue to complete the construction on time.

With regard to transportation issues, Rio pointed out that the government has INR 4 crore for purchase of new NST buses and hoped for improvement. He also suggested operationalising private buses while also mooting for deploying buses wherever it is necessary.

Airport in Kohima, inland waterway at Tizu-Zungki, roads

Rio said that with regard to Kohima Capital Airport, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has prepared the DPR, and AAI has conducted a survey and found it viable.

Further, Tizu-Zungki inland waterways will also be studied for viability by the ministry concerned, he said.

He informed that the NHIDCL had taken survey and alignment is also out from the four-lane by-pass Dimapur-Showuba- Niuland- Botsa-Pughoboto- Zunheboto-Aghunato-Shamatore-Noklak and Pangsha which is about 352 km and the tendering process will be taken up in few months time; while the- the Tizit- Mon-Longwa-Pangsha-Kiphire and Avangkhu route is kept in second phase with further alignment.

 Further he informed that the Personal Information Management System (PIMS) is ‘badly required’ to keep check of all employees to avoid multiple, bogus appointments. The E-pay bill system will ensure those who are on PIMs linked with Aadhaar will only get the salary.

He also reiterated that Govt. jobs in the state have reached a saturation point and entry into the government should only through NPSC or NSSB.

Pointing out that there were many litigations in the School Education department which had caused shortage of headmaster and asst. headmaster posts in various schools in the state, he said a solution was found and posting had started.

 In lieu of the protracted Naga political issue ongoing for decades, Rio also informed that the core group committee would also meet the Naga political groups to understand their thoughts and the committee would explain their side of the story and also meet the Government of India officials and the central leadership.