Share
Our Reporter
Dimapur, Jan. 21 (EMN): Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio, on Thursday said that the state government has identified places in Kohima and Dimapur to open public parks for leisure, stating that they would prove beneficial for the society.
Rio stated this while speaking at the inauguration of a public recreational centre at Green Park, State Horticulture Nursery in Dimapur, on January 21.
He said that Nagas are 'backward and poor, and only recently with statehood, development and education, we became an educated society'.
“But we are not yet civilised, and still primitive in all our thinking and behaviour and therefore recreational centres will make a difference,” he said.
"We have to change our mindset and we have to start from Dimapur and Kohima and it should spread to all the towns in the state," he said, adding that the Horticulture department should encourage this and take up the issue in the district planning and development board meeting and let the district authority decide and come up with spots for public recreation. He insisted that parks are set in every town.
Rio stated that he has already identified a place in Dimapur to open a public park and wants to create another park in Chümoukedima area. He also mentioned that he has already discussed and identified three places in Kohima.
He stated that the old zoo in Minister's Hill, which is an abandoned area, will be converted into a public park.
Nagaland University campus in Meriema, he suggested, can be utilised but on the slopes where constructions and buildings cannot come up, “we will make footpaths, plant trees and also encourage the indigenous trees and plants”. The third place he mentioned was Thizama, saying that there is sufficient area in the fishery complex, which can be converted into a park for public.
He further appreciated the department for making a long-felt desire for a public park and assured that the government would continue to upgrade the public utility centre.
Rio also proposed that Green Park should be opened to the public for recreation, jogging and even small meetings and other activities instead of being confined to the department.
Since the park is centrally located, he said, public would come to spend their time with friends and families.
He also suggested the village or colony leaders come up with local market places for essential commodities and identify places that are suitable for a public place.
‘The reason the town area market is congested is because all citizens go to town for shopping and therefore the market should be in different locations and areas,’ he said. He shared that colonies should have their own identified place for different facilities and weddings so that people can spread out and avoid congestion.
The Director and Mission Director (MIDH), R Elithung Lotha, informed that Green Park would be opened for the public from January 22, 6 am- 4 pm. He also stated that there will be free entry for everyone this month, and then the department would come up with revised rates for entry fee and membership fees, which would be updated soon.
The park has a walking track and open gym.
Speaking at the programme, Lotha recalled how they had problems with land encroachers in the past but were able to save it with the support of the government, administration and neighbouring villages.
"There were 297 encroachers who constructed houses in this very land," he recalled.
He also apprised the chief minister on the need for proper fencing, saying that the existing one was constructed way back in 1987-88. He also said that the guest house requires renovation.
Rio said that the Green Park is a 'great place for people to go for walks in the morning or evening or spend leisure time'. Speaking about the cafeteria, he stated that they should advertise it for takers and then opportunity be given to qualified and well-trained people to run the cafes, which should be ‘self-employed’. He also suggested building more washrooms, growing more green plants, and constructing jogging track.
Advisor for Horticulture and Border Affairs, Mhathung Yanthan, congratulated the department for successful completion of the public recreational centre at Green Park.
"Horticulture is not only about fruits and vegetables but also about aesthetics and that is also linked to recreation and health," he said.
He stated that Green Park is a "very big facility which is a huge area for a state like ours, and this is a great asset".
He further urged the department to protect and make the best use of the land, and asked the villagers and neighbouring areas to support them in protecting the properties and the land.
He suggested that since there are lot of water bodies in the park, many things can be done. 'If the water is maintained and developed, it can support the aquatic system,' he said.
"Let us make this facility state-of-the-art and also a centre for learning, recreation and nature," he said.
Saying that the “government is ready to support any innovative ideas”, he asked the department to prepare a concrete proposal that justifies its requirements.
Minister for Rural Development, Metsubo Jamir, NDPP President Chingwang Konyak, Commissioner of Police Dimapur, Rothihu Tetseo and other officials from the Horticulture department were also present at the inauguratal programme.