The SDPDB Bhandari meeting reviewed the Nagaland Foothill Road progress and the installation of smart prepaid metering.
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DIMAPUR — The monthly Sub-Divisional Planning and Development Board (SDPDB) meeting of the Bhandari sub-division was held at the conference hall of the Summer House-cum-Guest House at Bhandari on April 10, where officials reviewed developmental activities, including the Nagaland Foothill Road project.
According to a DIPR report, Extra Additional Commissioner and Secretary of SDPDB Bhandari Kilangtemsu reviewed the minutes of the last meeting. MLA and Chairman of SDPDB Bhandari Achumbemo Kikon welcomed newly posted officers to Bhandari as members to the house.
In the meeting, Kikon stressed the proactive role of the government pertaining to the Nagaland Foothill Road construction, its progress, and the expected timeline for completion.
He also highlighted some road specifics and the projected amount that may be required for the remaining construction work of the Foothill Road along the proposed stretch covering about 105 km under the Bhandari sub-division.
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Kikon called on the landowners, public leaders, and tribal leaders to contribute their part in constructing good infrastructure roads that will be fit to be declared a national highway and to achieve an unhindered work process which will be beneficial for all.
During the meeting, the Department of Power, Electrical Division, Wokha, sensitised the members on the phase-wise installation of smart prepaid metering under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).
Vungthungo L Murry, SDO Electrical, Sanis, urged the village chairmen and gaonburas from Baghty, Merapani, and Bhandari areas as well as councillors from the town to further help educate general public power consumers to shift from the conventional metering system to the prepaid smart metering system.
Vungthungo also spoke on the benefits of smart metering for consumers and highlighted money-saving, cheaper flat tariffs, hassle-free billing systems, energy consumption awareness through smart meters, recharge facilities at the consumer’s convenience, and reducing power theft.
He also mentioned that the first phase of the installation of prepaid electricity will comprise government offices and quarters, and the second phase will include business establishments and commercial consumers, which will be followed up by the rest within a timeframe.
Executive members of the Lotha Officers Association, Wokha unit, led by its President S Benrio Kithan, also attended the SDPDB meeting and handed over wheelchairs to the Community Health Centre (CHC) Bhandari as part of the association's 'Reach out' initiative to extend community assistance services to old and needy citizens.
The team also had interactive sessions with Bhandari-based officers for better coordination and functioning of the association.
MLA and Chairman of SDPDB Achumbemo also highlighted the need to post a Senior Medical Officer (SMO) at CHC Bhandari at the earliest in place of the officer who was transferred recently.