Government replies on issues of state
NAGA ISSUE: Acknowledging the concern of the members, he said the 17 years have gone by without any result to the Naga political issue. “Let us continue our efforts till solution is achieved regardless of political party affiliation and we have to work above tribal lines”.
Regarding Article 371(A), he asserted the House “it is protected and the Government will continue to protect it through the Assembly resolution”. He also affirmed that the Government would take the constructive suggestions of the Opposition members and Civil societies before implementing any Act of the Parliament in the state.
On the remarks of the opposition members about the Government blaming the 13th Finance Commission, Zeliang informed about the meeting with the Prime Minister, Union Finance Minister and Deputy Planning Commission of India soon after the awards were announced.
“None of them have disputed this fact”, he said while also informing the House that on the instructions of the Prime Minister a special window called “Special Central Assistance” was opened to mitigate the adverse impact of the 13th Finance Commission awards on the special category States.
“The Planning Commission could not provide the whole of the BCR gaps for want of budget provisions and this led to an uncovered BCR gap of Rs. 1964.15 crores during the 4 years (2010-11 to 2013-14),” he informed.
Appreciating the concerns of CLP leader Tokheho on less collection of state’s own revenue, the Chief Minister replied that transport and Taxes departments has been steadily increasing its revenue and meeting its target.
Supporting his statement he informed that the State’s tax revenue has during the last 5 years grown from Rs. 180.51 crore during 2009-10 to Rs. 347.29 crore during 2013-14, a growth of 92.15%.
During the same period, our total own revenue has grown from Rs. 306.86 crore during 2009-10 to Rs. 527.62 crore, a growth of 71.54%, he informed.
He however regretted that due to the narrow tax base and lack of economic activity, the state has not been able to achieve the desired levels of growth.
Zeliang said that steps have already been initiated to examine measures to improve revenue generation in the key sectors.
With regard to the suggestion, for taxation on land and buildings, Zeliang clarified that it was a subject to be taxed by Municipalities as per the constitution of India and the issue could be looked into as and when our Municipalities are re-constituted.
HIGH COURT: On the construction of Kohima High Court, the Chief Minister informed that an amount of Rs. 35.60 crore has been spent and stated that huge expenditure had to be incurred due to knocking down of at least five numbers of hillocks some of which measured 100 feet from the base.
With regard to the allegation of Rs. 18 crore being spent on approach road along, Zeliang clarified to the House that the amount was Rs. 6.75 and not as rendered.
OIL: On the issue of Oil exploration where MLA Hukavi expressed fear that companies would purchase the Oil fields and land would be transferred, the Chief Minister clarified that according to the state’s legal framework of PNG Rules and Regulations, no company is allowed to go for outright purchase of land. The companies will be required to pay the land access fee for pre-production and production activities.
“Ownership and tile of land will always be retained and vested with the landowner and once the operation is over, the land will be back with the landowner”, he informed.
He also informed the House that the Union Ministry has asked the state government to go ahead in framing the rules and have joint sitting with the Centre.
Replying to SI Jamir query on employment of local youth from Petroleum and Natural Gas Operation, he said Sec-17 (1) of the NPNG Rules clearly states that 50% of unskilled job and 10% of non-technical white color jobs would be reserved for the local Naga youth.
POWER:
On the issue of power shortage Zeliang replied that big hydro electric projects are not found feasible except in one or two locations as all the rivers in Nagaland are rain fed with limited catchment areas. He also informed the House that very soon the DPR for 25 MW Zungki and 36 MW Tizu Hydro Electric Project would be ready.
WATER SCARCITY: Acknowledging the concerns of the opposition with regard to water scarcity in the capital town, Zeliang admitted that the problem has existed for decades affecting all the people. He informed that the PHE department has taken up project for improving supply of water to the capital town with water from Zaru stream and as on date has reached 75% completion and was expected to be completed and commissioned within 2015. With regard to coverage of villages and towns with water scarcity, Zeliang assured that the department is giving priority to the most water scare villages and towns and significant improvements would be made within a period of two years.
LOTTERIES DEPARTMENT: As far as the case of outstanding dues of Rs. 77 crore against M/s Cairs is concerned, Zeliang said the matter is sub-judice in teh Court of the District & Sessions Judge, Kohima since September 13, 2011 in Civil Suit on a case filed by the State Government against M/S Cairs for recovery of outstanding dues.
He therefore simply said it would be inappropriate for the House to discuss a matter that is in the court of law and therefore, no comments can be offered at this stage.
Regarding the allegation that the department accepted the lowest offer of Rs. 15,000 per draw instead of the highest offer of Rs. 35,000 per draw, he clarified that the proposal offering Rs. 35,000 per draw was struck down by the Guwahati High Court Kohima Bench on December 12, 2012 filed by Divyajyoti Distributors Pvt. Ltd. and another against the state government.
In the same ruling, the high Court directed the State government to float a fresh tender which has been done.
BORDER DISPUTE WITH ASSAM: The Assam-Nagaland border dispute is pending in the Supreme Court of India since 1988 when a civil suit was filed by the Assam Government, he said, adding that Nagaland has also filed affidavit in opposition.
He said that a local commission was appointed by the Court under the Chairmanship of a retired SC judge for hearing claims of both the states. However, after a couple of years, the SC has suspended the Commission and has now appointed co-mediators to resolve the dispute through mediation, he informed while also disclosing that the case will come up before the SC for hearing in the month of September 2014.
Meanwhile, he said the present problem in Dimapur involving the villages of Rilan, Indisen, Aoyimkum and Dikoi relates to encroachment by the people of Nagaland into the Doldoli Reserve Forest.
He said while this areas falls within the traditional claim area of the Nagas, till such time the matter is finally settled, status quo is to be maintained.
Under this arrangement, management of the serve forest in the border areas come under the Forest Department of the Government of Assam, he said adding that any act of encroachment of a reserved forest area is an offence, and action has to be taken against any act of encroachment.
UNPRODUCTIVE EMPLOYEES: He informed the House that Cabinet Sub-Committee has been constituted to go into the details of the unproductive employees specially the workcharged employees. He said the Deputy Commissioners have been asked to disburse salaries to the workcharged employees in their presence. He said if this is successful it would save lots of unproductive expenditure of the state.
PROHIBITION ACT: The House also decided to have a special session of the NLA to discuss on whether to continue to implement or lift the Total Liquor Prohibition Act. Zeliang informed the House that after the government holds consultative meet on NSDZ with the civil societies and tribal hohos, a special session of the House would be called within next couple of months.
In his concluding remarks, he said the 60 members represents nearly 20 lakh population of the state and as responsible leaders they should teach the people to obey the rules framed by the government. “When our people learn to obey the rule, implementation of the government policies and programme will take place time,” he said.
SINE DIE: Subsequently, NLA Speaker Chotisuh Sazo took up the 30 cut-motions of the Congress, which were either withdrawn or voted out. Later, Sazo adjourned the House sine die after announcing the revised constitution of various financial and non-financial committees and panel of chairmen for 2014-15.
