Dimapur, June 16 (EMN): Chief Minister Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu today said that the Nagaland government was contemplating ‘rewriting’ the Nagaland Municipal Act (NMA) so that elections to the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) can be conducted smoothly.
Speaking during a ceremony inaugurating the foundation of a building for the Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) at Kezieke as the chief guest, the chief minister said that the government alone cannot be exempted from the Municipal Act with women reservation because the 94th Amendment was passed by the Indian Parliament.
However, Dr. Shürhozelie said that because various community organisations have opposed the Nagaland Municipal Act, the government will amend the Act so that elections to the ULB can be conducted and let the municipalities function accordingly.Also, he said that people expect developmental activities from the government. However, he said, unless there is peace in the society, one cannot expect development to take place. He has called upon the people to maintain peace and to work together in developing the state.
According to a press release from the Chief Minister’s Office, Dr. Liezietsu has stated that the site of the KMC in future will become the ‘most important and happening site’ in town ‘as many developments will take place in the area.’ He assured that the Nagaland government will extend all possible assistance to constructing the KMC’s building soon.
The Naga Peoples’ Front’s (NPF) Central Executive Council (CEC) had passed a resolution yesterday urging the state government to set up a consultative committee comprising legal luminaries. It had sought inviting nongovernmental organisations to solicit their views on the Nagaland Municipal Act, and the pending elections to the ULBs; to set up advisory committees in the ULBs so that their affairs can be handled by local leaders.
Also, the KMC’s Administrator Kethosituo Sekhose expressed anguish at the ‘anti-social elements’ that destroyed the KMC building and associated property at the old MLA Hostel.
Nonetheless, he expressed gratefulness to the government as well as the civil society for extending their help in setting up the new location for the KMC to function at URA Academy. He thanked the state government for prompt action in locating and availing the new permanent site for the KMC building.
