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Neiphiu Rio inspecting the parade during the 72nd Independence Day celebrations at the New Secretariat Complex, in Kohima on Aug. 15.[/caption]
Kohima, Aug. 15 (EMN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has reasserted that the Indo-Naga political issue remains a top agenda of the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government. “Political negotiations have been going on for the last 21 years. We have had many challenges but there is no problem that is insurmountable before the collective will of the people...Together we need to strive towards that goal with the collective cooperation and support of all sections of society,” the chief minister said on Wednesday in his address to the 72nd Independence Day programme at the Nagaland Secretariat Plaza in Kohima.
Rio said that the PDA was committed to playing the role of an active facilitator in the ongoing political negotiations between the government of India and the Naga political groups. The govt. has taken measures to create a ‘conducive atmosphere’ for an early solution, including setting up of a political affairs committee, besides conducting consultative meeting with civil society organisations and calling on the representatives of the Central government.
During a meeting with tribal ‘hohos’ on May 11 at Kohima, he said, there was a resolution to urge all Naga political groups including the NSCN K to renew the ceasefire with the government of India and to join the peace talks, to realise an inclusive solution. Another significant resolution, he said, was a request to the Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) to reconstitute the erstwhile Joint Legislators’ Forum for pursuing an early solution to the Naga political issue.
Appeal to neighbouring states
Rio asserted the PDA’s support to the desire of the Naga people to integrate all contiguous Naga inhabited areas, which were resolutions in the Nagaland legislature during four occasions. He said that the alliance had consistently maintained ‘this legitimate and democratic right of the people’. He appealed to the neighbouring states to appreciate the history and democratic rights of the Nagas in a spirit of mutual respect so that ‘all can live together as good neighbours under an environment of harmonious coexistence and brotherhood.’
“We appeal to the negotiating parties, especially the government of India to expedite the process and respond to the voice of the people by bringing a political solution at the earliest. On our part, we reiterate our commitment to pave the way for an alternative arrangement that may arise from the political agreement,” the chief minister said. He urged the Naga community to unite to strengthen the peace process and create a congenial environment for a successful conclusion of the ongoing talks.
Chief Minister Rio expressed deep concern at the devastation across the state as a result of the monsoon rains. “We are celebrating Independence Day this year at a time when the state has been ravaged by unprecedented heavy rains and landslides causing widespread damage to life, property, roads and bridges,” he said.
Stating that the state mourns the loss of 10 lives, he said people have no control over nature. He commended the prompt response of stakeholders including the govt. departments and the civil administration, police; and state agencies and civil society groups and citizens from different walks of life who extended all efforts to ensure that blocked roads and highways are made operational without delay and supply of essential commodities are not disrupted.
Informing that restoration works have been initiated, he called upon citizens to be aware of problems that could occur due to unplanned development and encroachment of drains, especially in the urban areas. He expressed gratitude to the government of India for heeding to the distress call of the people of Nagaland and deputing two Indian Air Force helicopters to transport essential commodities to areas that were cut off.
Further, Rio emphasised the need to resolve the urban local bodies (ULB) issue and conduct elections to involve the community directly in managing civic amenities. “With increasing population, there is a greater need to provide better amenities to the urban population. While we are implementing schemes for Housing for All, Livelihoods, Urban Sanitation and creation of infrastructure — we also need to look into the ways and means of adapting to the urban way of life,” he said. He has urged the people of the state and the tribal hohos in particular to cooperate so that the issue can be resolved.
“Adherence and enforcement of building bye-laws is absolutely essential given that the state is situated in seismic zone five, which is most vulnerable to earthquakes,” the chief minister said.
On the law and order front, Rio informed that the infrastructure needs of the Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards and Village Guards have been augmented to meet the increasing requirement of security, traffic management, and disaster management. He informed that the government had enhanced allowance for policemen with the implementation of 7th ROP. It ensures higher emoluments when they were deployed within or outside the state. The govt. has also enhanced the ex gratia payable to the next of kin of personnel of the Assam Rifles, armed forces, CAPF and Nagaland police, he added.
The chief minister did not hesitate to term the quality of roads in the state ‘poor.’ He asserted that the issue was one of the biggest challenges facing the govt. Repairing and maintaining roads is the ‘top priority’ of the govt., he said. Accordingly, he said, repairs on major roads in all the district headquarters was taken up.
“While the government has done its best within the short period of time despite being hampered by monsoon rains and enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct due to the Lok Sabha bye-elections, more work needs to be done,” he said. “Our task is further compounded by the unprecedented rains that are causing damage to our roads. In urban areas, we also have the challenge of poor drainage systems and encroachment on existing drains. Together we need to ensure that not only do we make good quality roads but also prevent damage to the roads being built and repaired.” He said that the four-lane Dimapur Kohima National Highway was an ongoing work being taken up by the NHIDCL. He assured that work was being monitored regularly although with rains and landslides, maintaining the existing highway had now become a challenge.
He expressed hope that this highway would be completed soon to mitigate the hardships being faced by the people. Along with the other road constructions around the state, a survey for the Kohima bye-pass had been completed and work should begin soon, he said. Similarly, work on the Nagaland portion of the Dimapur bye-pass had already been ‘sanctioned’ and work had commenced.
Rio also said that survey for the Simalguri-Mon route had been ‘initiated’ while the government was also pursuing the Nagaland Foothill road—the trans-Nagaland highway—which would connect Tizit in Mon districtd with Khelma in Peren district. This road is stated to be taken up in three phases namely Tizit to Longtho, Longtho to Niuland, and Niuland to Khelma. It is a very important project that would provide an alternative connectivity to the people within Nagaland, he said.
Improvement work in Kohima from the Kohima Municipal Gate to Phesama Police Check Gate has also started, he said further. In Dimapur, from New Field Check Gate to Patkai Bridge via Purana Bazar and Chumukedima will start soon, he said. Work to make into two-lane the NH-02 from Yisemyong to Unger has been awarded and is likely to start very soon, Rio informed. Further, construction of new bridges at Doyang and Tsusangra on NH-02 is on and shall be completed during 2018-19, he added.
Rio stated that 2019 will see the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Kohima. To commemorate the milestone and promote tourism, he said, a committee has been constituted to study and implement how best this significant aspect of Naga history would be used to contribute to the economic progress of the present and future generations.