Neiphiu Rio visits Ganeshnagar quarantine centre; Nagaland’s largest facility can accommodate 1,070 people

* Says Ganeshnagar quarantine centre can accommodate more than 1000 people
* Will provide inmates motivational training on business entrepreneurship
* Anyone going outside the state for work must now register with government

Our Reporter
Dimapur, May 29 (EMN): The unpredictable nature of the Covid-19 pandemic calls for flexible responses as per the needs of the situation, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said on Friday, during his visit to Ganeshnagar industrial estate at Dhansiripar sub-division in Dimapur, where works are in progress to turn the facility into largest quarantine centre in the state yet.

The chief minister was accompanied by other ministers and government officials.

“The present pandemic is a human problem, where one cannot go strictly by the rules. Every day it keeps on changing as per the situation of that day,” he was quoted as saying by the DIPR.

Standard operating procedures, therefore, would be reviewed at the cabinet meeting scheduled for Monday, he informed.

‘Inspected the quarantine centre at Ganeshnagar industrial estate in Dimapur along with some of my colleagues. I am grateful to DGP Nagaland, officers and jawans for converting it to a fully equipped quarantine centre, with a capacity for 1,070 people, within a short time,’ Rio tweeted later in the day.

According to DIPR updates, the chief minister donated INR 5 lakh “to honour and acknowledge the jawans”.

“Anywhere in the world, police lend their committed services in times of disaster and today also you have shown your calibre. Well done,” Rio said.

He said that the government would support those quarantined at Ganeshnagar by imparting motivational training on business entrepreneurship, to those who desire to stay in Nagaland and earn their living.

Rio emphasised on focussing in Agri and allied sectors, entrepreneurship, sports and tourism in order to build the economy; adding that the ‘strategy group’ is working on it.

The chief minister informed that henceforth, any Nagaland citizen going to work outside the state has to register with the government. “Government will discuss and take decision very soon in this regard,” he said.

He said that, including Ganeshnagar, the state is now ready to accommodate around 4500 returnees.

The chief minister reminded that Covid-19 is a global pandemic and that people should not indulge in blame game or stigmatisation. ‘As a family, we must all welcome them; and also those who are yet to arrive, let us welcome them with love,’ Rio urged.

He thanked the frontline workers, civil societies as well as the public for their tireless efforts in the battle against Covid-19.

Reinforcement of medics by next week

Meanwhile, PHED Minister Nagaland, Jacob Zhimomi highlighted the shortage of medical staff in Dimapur, to which the Health and Family Welfare minister Pangnyu Phom, assured to send an additional team of medics by next week.

DGP Nagaland, John Longkumer highlighted the command flow chart, items to be provided to the inmates on arrival, expenditure incurred in renovating the industrial estate and budget requirement for catering, police mess and sanitation and scavenging duty.

Longkumer also suggested to the Empowered Committee for sending the returnees to Ganeshnagar in large numbers rather than in small batches.

Operational by next week

Speaking to Eastern Mirror, an official from Ganeshnagar industrial estate informed that the government of Nagaland has entrusted the quarantine centre to be ready to accommodate around 1000 inmates.

“Today is the seventh day since work has started and the CM came to see the progress of the work,” the official informed.

The quarantine centre is divided into three sectors, A, B and C; and two sectors are already nearing completion, said the official.

“The two sectors should be ready and operational by next week,” he informed.

The official further informed that the centre is in an abandoned location and many restoration works like ‘clearing roads, electricity, water had to be done’.

“We started from scratch with the help of other departments as well,” said the official and added that the pace of work was very fast.

He said that the centre will try to be ‘kept contactless’ as much as possible between management and inmates.

“Infrared red thermal screening feature and registering inmates via SMS is also in the pipeline,” said the official.

It may be noted that Ganeshnagar, which was slated to be a special economic zone, is an industrial facility with many single and double storey building blocks, including godowns. The infrastructure at Ganeshnagar have been left abandoned for several years as no potential Naga entrepreneurs came forward to stay and work there, according to the DIPR.