Dimapur, March 15 (EMN): In effort to take developmental initiatives to remote areas, the advisor for the Department of Underdeveloped Areas (Duda), Bongkhao Konyak, inaugurated two major projects in the Tobu-subdivision of Mon district.
A press release from an aide to the advisor was received here on Saturday, informing about the projects.
The advisor inaugurated a Bailey Bridge connecting Tobu in Mon and Auching village in Longleng district at Yetyong. He inaugurated also ‘the process of providing electricity supply’ to Yongkhao village, both in the Tobu sub-division on March 14, the updates stated.
Both the projects are said to be part of the ‘backward area development project’ (BADP), the press release stated.
In his address at Yetyong, where members of three communities—Konyak, Chang and Phom—had gathered for the official inauguration, the advisor expressed hope that the opening of the bridge would bring the people of the three communities in the area closer. He urged them to ‘forgive and forget past mistakes’ and to move forward towards development and progress as a united community.
Konyak asserted that the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio had concern for the welfare of the people from the remote, backward areas. In regard to this, he sought cooperation and support of the three communities so that government schemes would reach the grassroots.
The Duda’s director KS Anden Konyak gave updates about various schemes and activities of the department for the backward areas.
The president of the Phom Peoples’ Council H Tenchem Phom, chairman of Tobu village N Leangin, and chairman of Auching village K Moba also delivered short speeches. They lauded the Duda for providing the much-needed connectivity for the two villages.
The Duda’s Executive Engineer N Imti Chang gave a brief technical report about the construction of the bridge.
At Yangkhao, advisor Konyak launched an initiative of the Duda to provide electricity to the village through a ‘micro vortex turbine’ in partnership with Zynorique Initiatives of Nagaland.
In his speech, the local legislator appealed to the villagers or the landowners not to hinder development initiatives of the government and also to not create problems for those in the far-flung areas to carry out the work.
Maintain peace and development and progress will follow suit, Bongkhao Konyak said.
In her brief report about the project, the joint director of the Duda, Dr Anungla Imdong Phom informed that the ‘gravitation water vortex power plant’ was a type of micro-hydro vortex turbine system which is capable of converting energy in a moving fluid to rotational energy using a low hydraulic head of 0.7-3 metres.
The turbine is envisaged to change the lives of the people living in the far-flung areas of Nagaland, she said. She said that the company involved in the project will be taking care of the facility for a year till power supply reaches every house in the village.
The managing director of Zynorique Initiatives, Richard Belho, also gave updates about setting up the turbine.
A memorandum of understanding was also signed between the village and the Duda. Yongkhao village council’s secretary T Khole signed it on behalf of the village, while Duda Director KS Anden Konyak appended it for the department.
Officials of the district administration, Duda officials, and GBs and villagers were also present during the programme.
