Nagaland relaxes movement of returnees; workers expected to return for road construction

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Sep. 7 (EMN): The high powered committee (HPC) on Monday decided to bring out a new standard operating procedure (SOP) for movement relaxation and returnees, which were restricted earlier.

The minister for Planning and Coordination, Land Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs, Neiba Kronu, who is also the government’s spokesperson on Covid-19, informed that the decision was taken after HPC’s meeting held on September 7.

The minister said most of the people involved in road construction work in the state are now coming back.

“Our road conditions are so bad, when there is rainy season, we cannot work. In addition, the working period is very less in Nagaland. Therefore, now is the time for road construction. Keeping this in view, the HPC decided to relax these few months. Most of the returnees coming to the state will have lesser problems now,” he said.

However, the most important thing is to maintain the safety protocols issued by the Health department, he said. ‘The decision for relaxation doesn’t mean that we have relaxed everything; there should be strict social distancing,’ Kronu added.

He also informed that quarantine will not be necessary for those persons coming to the state for official visit, that is one day visit or leaving the state within 48 hours.

The minister informed that the government has set up a strategic economic committee. It has planned out how to go about the production, particularly in agricultural and other sectors in the state, and details of which have been brought out.

The project has already been sent to the North Eastern Council (NEC) for funding. This year, for post Covid-19 activities in agriculture and other allied sectors, the state has sent only one project to NEC. ‘This is something new and probably, NEC will consider,’ he said.  

Further, ‘as people have to be ready for winter crops’, a new SOP will be brought out, he added.