Will form committee for exploring natural resources, says Nagaland Chief Minister

KOHIMA — Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Thursday said that a committee will be formed to correspond with stakeholders on matters related to exploration of natural resources.

The committee will get in touch with the civil societies, Naga political groups, landowners, and tribal leaders, he said in his concluding remark on the budget speech.

‘We will make them understand and though we cannot immediately do the exploitation except in Champang and in some areas we will start with the exploration of oil and natural gas,’ Rio said, adding that the government would intensively go for exploration of minerals deposit.

The state government has recently taken a senior officer and expert in mineral exploration, on deputation, and a special cell would be created in the Geology and Mining department under his leadership to give much needed impetus to mineral exploration in the state, the CM said.

To form Pol. Affairs Committee

Rio also said the state government would ‘immediately’ form a political affairs committee so as to vigorously pursue and facilitate the dialogue on the Naga political issue.

“We are all aware that the negotiations are between the Naga Political Groups and the Government of India, and we will continue to facilitate the dialogue, and urge the negotiating parties to resolve the matter early. For this to happen, I agree that there needs to be unity among ourselves,” Rio said.

Shortage of doctors

The CM said that the Health & Family Welfare department now has about 113 vacancies for doctors

The shortage of doctors is caused by systemic deficiencies in the Service Rules as well as recruitment procedures, he said, adding that the government is already in the process of addressing these issues.

On Assam-Nagaland border issue

Stating that the Assam and Nagaland border issue is a long pending issue, the CM maintained that the Nagas should not put all the blame on Assam as the Nagas are also at fault.

The people of the state are too engrossed with Naga political issue and fighting among ourselves that we are not doing what we should be doing, he said.

‘All these years from 1860 to 1871, all tea estate and forest (of the Nagas) were transferred (to Assam) and today we are saying that it should be transferred back. But all these years what were we doing, we were busy in our own affairs,’ Rio said.

He also informed that suggestion for enhancing the allocation for Border Areas will be examined, and urged the developmental departments to ensure that they allocate their resources to develop necessary infrastructure and utilities in these areas.