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Kohima, Feb. 12 (EMN): Governor of Nagaland, RN Ravi on Friday asserted that road network improvement in every part of the state remains to be “one of the most important aims” of his government, he said the Nagaland PWD (NH) has 1095.56 km of National highways under its charge, out of the total 1507.88 km of National highways existing in the state, and it is carrying out several road improvement and widening works.
Ravi was addressing the 7th session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) on the first day.
The NH-2 from Botsa to Tsungiki Bazaar (40 to 101 km), and from Yisemyong to Unger (168 to 185 km), about 78 km in all, is being widened, he said, adding that strengthening of existing pavement for 173.46 kilometres on NH-2, NH-702B and NH-702A are also in progress.
During the current financial year 2020-21, improvement works of the city portion of Dimapur (New Field check gate to Chathe River Bridge via Purana Bazaar and Chümoukedima = 17.3 km) has been “completed successfully,” he maintained, adding that tenders for awarding of work for widening of two-lane road from Tsungiki bazaar to Izheto village (101 to 125 km) on NH-2, and strengthening of NH-2 from TCP gate to IG Stadium (0 to 6 km) are underway.
He updated that the PWD also successfully completed and inaugurated the RCC Girder Bridges on Chathe River, Diphupar-A, behind Referral Hospital, Dimapur under CRF with an approved cost of INR 37.66 crore, and on Dhansiri River at Nagarjan, Dimapur under CRF with an approved cost of INR37.95 crore, on December 21, 2020. One carriageway of four-lane RCC Bridge on river Sanourii, Kohima under CRF leading to Civil Secretariat and Nagaland Legislative Assembly was also inaugurated on November 30, 2020, he added.
The PWD is carrying out works on more than 900 kilometres of roads with an approved cost of more than INR 2000 crore under several schemes during 2020-21, it was informed.
Stating that the state government remains committed in ensuring regular supply of electricity to “each and every part of the state, which is one of the most crucial element for enhancing the speed of economic development,” he said that the department of Power upgraded the capacity of the substation at RESS Nagarjan Dimapur from 100MVA to 200MVA with a view to strengthen its transmission ability.
The upgraded substation was officially commissioned on December 9 in 2020, he informed, adding that the department is further developing 220kV downstream connectivity from 400kV substation at Zhadima (Kalpataru) to the state owned 220kV sub-station at the village.
“This will greatly improve power stability in Kohima, Kiphire, Phek and Wokha districts in particular and the whole state of Nagaland in general,” he said, adding the project is scheduled for completion by March 2021.
He announced that under DDUGJY-NEW (Phase-II) scheme, government of India has sanctioned INR 42.18 crore for construction of new power sub-stations, electrification of un-electrified villages and village intensive electrification, metering of distribution transformers and feeders in 12 districts of Nagaland.
“The department has achieved 80% physical progress under this scheme which will further improve sub-transmission and distribution networks thereby improving the quality and reliability of power supply and also reduce the losses,” he said, adding that “the department has also achieved 100% physical work progress under the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), which is meant for system strengthening of distribution network and replacement of defective meters, reduction of AT and C losses for 12 urban towns – Dimapur, Chümoukedima, Kohima, Wokha, Phek, Mokokchung, Tuensang, Mon, Zunheboto, Longleng, Kiphire and Peren.”
While maintaining that the outcome of the scheme “has greatly improved stability and quality power supply in the urban areas of the state,” he said the department will erect 171.70 km of 11 kV line length, 6.70 km of 33 kV line length and 117.80 km of LT line length during 2021-22. It is planning to install 109 distribution transformers of various capacities and three new power substations of various capacitates.
Asserting that the department of PHED under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) has provided 61 habitations with 100% Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC), Ravi informed that a total of 41,203 FHTC have been provided in the state till date. “Further, a total of 1,46,826 FHTC in 466 habitations are planned for coverage with drinking water supply under JJM during 2020-21,” he apprised.
Under Rural Sanitation (Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), he said, the department has completed the construction of 13,751 units of Individual Household Latrines (IHHL), 140 units of Community Sanitary Complexes (CSC) and covered 62 villages/habitations with Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) units.
Meanwhile, the department of Transport further enhanced the reach of NST by inducting 20 new buses to its fleet during 2020-21, he said it also played a “significant role” in the fight against Coid-19.
“It deployed more than 80 buses for ferrying the returnees to their respective district head quarters and within their districts; and including other Covid-19 related duties since March 2020 till Oct. 2020, a total of 3,04,150 km was covered by the NST buses. In 2021-22, the department plans to acquire 13 new buses and also complete the ongoing projects at several heliports,” he informed.
He also threw light on the department of Women Resources during 2020-21 which took up production of face masks on a “significant scale thereby creating a source of employment during the time of pandemic for skilled unemployed women in and around Kohima”.
He informed that in the coming financial year, the department plans to take up new initiatives under the Transformative Livelihood Intervention (TLI) Project and under the Integrated Development-cum-Resource Centre, Dimapur, to cover more women entrepreneurs as well as rural and marginalised women in the state.
The governor said that the department of Science and Technology, during the current financial year, completed the construction of a 50-seater digital planetarium and an innovation hub at S and T Complex, Kohima, and is planning to finish installation of equipment at digital planetarium and innovation hub, carry out science popularisation programmes at district headquarters and continue assisting the rural high schools by providing science equipment kits during 2021-22
He also mentioned that the department of New and Renewable Energy for the Tsutsung Small Hydro Power (1MW) completed trial run along with the construction of 33kV transmission line for evacuation of power from Tsutsung generating station to 132/66/33kV sub-station at Aolichen in Mokokchung.
“The commissioning of the project is expected to be done by the end of the current financial year,” he said.
He informed under the Solar Study Lamp scheme, 24,000 units of solar study lamps are to be distributed to government school students up to class 12th standard at a subsidised rate, adding that the programme is under progress.
Affirming that the state is endowed with significant mineral resources in the form of coal, limestone, magnetite, oil and natural gas and building materials as the major mineral resources, Ravi said the Geology and Mining department’s activity focuses on the updating and evaluation of its mineral resources in line with the national mineral resource classification and reporting system so as to generate data and to provide perspective for policies and decisions in exploitation of the resources.
“The regional coal exploration in Melak-Tzurang valley coalfield of Mokokchung district by the department is a continuous activity where coal resources have been upgraded by an increment of 177.24 MT from two blocks in addition to 315.41 MT (DGM 2008). Besides the reported 16.30 mt magnetite resource, the department has also undertaken exploration of the Nickel-Cobalt-Chromium-Magnetite deposit of Mollen-Jopi-Zipu areas of Naga Hill Ophiolite in Kiphire district which has given positive results,” he shared.
The department is carrying out seismic micro-zonation of greater Dimapur city in collaboration with NEIST, Jorhat and NSDMA, he informed, adding that it is targeted to be completed by 2021. “The objective of this study is to establish data for sustainable urban planning and earthquake hazard mitigation measures,” he said.
Stating that the “government has remained committed towards the goal of bringing the underdeveloped areas of the state on par with the more advanced and developed areas,” he maintained the department of Underdeveloped Areas (Duda), since its creation in 2003, has been working towards this end.
“It has, in the underdeveloped areas, taken up several developmental programmes in sectors such as health, education, agri and allied, infrastructure and road connectivity, under Border Area Development Programme (BADP) and Underdeveloped Areas Programme (UDAP),” he stated.
He continued that the department is also implementing the 'Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) and Minimum Support Price (MSP) and development of value chain for MFP under “TRIFED, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, GoI from 2018-19. Under this scheme, 380 SHGs under 38 VDVKs have been formed thus benefitting 11,400 households,” he said, adding, that “they are actively involved in elevating the livelihood of farmers and Minor Forest Produce gatherers”.
Initiating a Covid-19 response plan for livelihood activities, he said, Duda has initiated income-generating activities for the rural populace by way of providing machineries to farmers and procure farmers’ products. He informed that the department plans to implement programmes with specific focus on livelihood, human resource development, infrastructure development, and such similar economic activities in the backward areas.
Ravi said “the stunning and beautiful landscape of our state, coupled with the vibrant and colourful culture of our people, has made Nagaland a much sought-after tourist destination,” but 2020 wasdifficult for the tourism sector because of the pandemic and curbs on travel.
The Hornbill Festival 2020 was celebrated in a completely virtual mode, he said, adding that with the gradual opening of various economic activities and easing of restrictions on the movement of people, the tourism sector in the state has now been re-opened with effect from December 27, 2020 with SOPs in place.
“The Tourism department has outlined several strategies for the revival of the tourism industry in Nagaland as an eco-adventure, rural tourism destination and also promote it as a safe destination,” he said.
For more ease and transparency, the aim of the government has always been “providing more government to citizen services online”, he maintained, while stating that the department of Information Technology and Communication (IT&C), during the current financial year, developed online platforms for various departments including Higher Education, Technical Education, School Education, Home department, Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, etc, to enable information sharing, monitoring, analysis, planning, financial assistance and providing state scholarships to eligible students through a transparent online platform.
He said the department also developed Covid dashboard for providing the latest information on the pandemic. “As many as 37,932 stranded citizens of Nagaland availed financial assistance through the ‘I am Stranded’ portal, a total of 2,940 bob seekers registered on the job links portal and 44,834 scholarship applications have been received through the common scholarship portal up till 4th February 2021.”
A total of 18,39,281 visitors have used the state Covid-19 dashboard for Covid-related information and services up till February 4, 2021, he said.
Meanwhile, it was also informed that in view of the “felt need and in fulfilment of people's aspirations, the Noklak district was created and made functional. “The newly created district would go a long way in giving a further impetus to the development of people living in the bordering areas,” he said.
“My government remains committed in its efforts to bring development to the people of the state. The various achievements in various sectors and areas, and the people-oriented policies and programmes just outlined is another step in our steady march towards ensuring all round progress to every community and every part of the state,” he said.
He further hoped that the august House will always keep public interest and their betterment at their core of their thoughts while deliberating on any matter, while wishing for positive and constructive deliberations during the session.
Advisor Namri Nchang moved the motion of thanks on the governor’s address at the august House and advisor Haiying seconded the motion.