I am constrained to respond to the press statement of Mr. Imna Along Hon’ble Minister of Higher & Technical Education Nagaland dated 25th June 2019 in local media wherein it is said that,” Longleng polytechnic was not of politics but location “ As an elected representative from Tamlu constituency ,and also I was part of the government during the selection of site for polytechnic institute of Longleng, I am compelled to issue this statement to keep the record straight. His statement that, Yungho Yongnyah is in the middle of the forest and Island shows his ignorance and lack of information about the topography of Longleng District and Nagaland, because there is no forest in and around Yungho forget about Island. It also means that he has never consulted the department officials .
In view of dispute over the selection of site from different quarters alleging that the departmental survey was bias, several re verifications was conducted and finally an independent committee constituted by notification dated 15 -07- 2016 to verify if there was any such anomalies . On consideration of the report, submitted by the independent committee to government ,no such anomalies whatsoever were reported by the committee ,Hence the government by order dated 07.10. 2016 reafirmed the earlier approval dated 17.06. 2016 for setting up of polytechnic at Yongho at Yongnyah village Longleng District. The selection of the site was done taking into consideration of the report of technical experts and of various aspects like road connectivity, location, availability of water , suitability and feasibility of the land , electricity etc. Accordingly , inauguration of the site was done on 26.09.2017 by laying the foundation stone. The site was thereafter, surveyed by the concerned authorities and after completion of the process of requisition and acquisition of land. Sale deeds was finally executed between the land owners and the govern ment on 15 .05 2018. Whereby an area of 40 acres has been acquired. Now the land owners are waiting for the payment.
The dept also objected for shifting of the site, for the polytechnic from yongnyah village to any other site considering the entire facts and circumstances from all perspectives .
There is no change of circumstances in between the earlier approval order dated 17- 06-2016 and 07-10-2016, and the subsequent impugn order dated 05-10-2018, so as to change the site to Hukphang village except change of government. Subsequent decision for shifting of site from Yongnyah to Hukphang for establishment of polytechnic has been made solely based on the representation by some individuals not in public interest. Be that as it may.legality of the approval order dated 05-10-2018 is subjudised before ther Hon,ble Guwahaty High Court in W.A.No. 145/2019.
B S Nganlang
49 A/C Tamlu
