‘No adverse opinion’ on Nagaland Municipal Bill, says Deputy CM Zeliang

KOHIMA — Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland, TR Zeliang has announced that the Nagaland Municipal Bill, 2023, will be passed during the upcoming state assembly session on November 9, as there was “no adverse opinion” from the tribal leaders on the matter.

Zeliang, who is also the convenor of the seven-member Select Committee for examining the Bill, said this during a media briefing after a consultative meeting of the panel, along with the chief secretary, and three apex tribal bodies — Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation, Central Nagaland Tribes Council and Tenyimi Union Nagaland — at Capital Convention Centre, Kohima, on Monday.

Urban Local Body (ULB) elections have been pending in the state for an extended period, with the last polls being conducted in 2004. It was delayed for varied reasons, including the unresolved Naga peace talks, disputes over the 33 percent reservation for women, which faced opposition from tribal bodies, as well as objection to the introduction of land and property taxes.

However, after a series of consultations, Zeliang said: “They (men) have also considered and with good magnanimity, they have agreed to go ahead with the 33 per cent reservation. So, there should not be any problem for conducting the election.”

Also read: Urban, town bodies adopt 4-point resolution on Nagaland Municipal Bill 2023

He added that they “could not invite” all the tribal units and other organisations to Monday’s consultative meeting due to paucity of time. Yet, based on the consultative meeting, he said, they are hopeful everything will go smoothly and that the ULB election will be conducted peacefully “very soon”.

“Hopefully, this amendment to the Nagaland Municipal Act 2023 will be passed in the assembly,” said Zeliang, adding there was no adverse opinion from the three tribal bodies.

He said the consultative meeting was convened as the present government respects the contention of the people as well as the Supreme Court.

“We have decided to go ahead with our recommendation and the governor has summoned the house on November 9 on the matter- to be discussed in the assembly and to be passed by the assembly,” he asserted.

He, however, said that the final call for the committee’s recommendation will be taken by the state assembly.

The committee has decided to go ahead with its meeting at the assembly committee room on November 7, following which it will submit recommendations on the Bill prior to the assembly session.

Highlighting the recommendations of the committee, the deputy chief minister said women’s reservation for the chairperson of the committee and council will be omitted and the clause on land and property tax will be deleted.

Mokokchung district, in particular, was against land and property tax, so the committee decided to delete that portion. However, nominal fees will be collected for the development of their towns and councils, he said, adding that the fees will come under the rules after the Act is passed.

The candidates of the municipal council for the ULB will be from indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland. Being a Scheduled Tribes (100 per cent), there is no general quota or reserved seat. This was included based on the recommendations of the tribals, Zeliang pointed out.

As for the ULB election, he said, it will formulate rule once the Act is passed, before carrying out delimitation, which may take a few months. This will be followed by announcement of ULB election date by the state election commission.

During the briefing, Zeliang was accompanied by Power Minister KG Kenye, Minister for Rural Development Metsubo Jamir, and Advisor for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Zhaleo Rio.

Also read: 7-member committee formed to re-examine Nagaland Municipal Bill 2023