EMN
Dimapur, June 9
Chief Minister TR Zeliang along with his three Cabinet colleagues Minister for Power Kipili Sangtam, Home Minister Y Paton and Parliamentary Secretary (Planning) Neiba Kronu met Union DoNER Minister VK Singh in New Delhi today.
According to a release issued by the CMO, the Chief Minister appraised the Union minister about the long delays even in the sanction of retained schemes under NLCPR mainly due to vetting of schemes in the Line Ministries. Zeliang suggested that ministry of DoNER must have the technical cell to vet schemes which will considerably cut down the delays in sanction/release of funds against the schemes under NLCPR. He also stated that he would bring one DPR from each district which will fulfill the aspiration of local people. VK Singh, in turn, discussed his major concerns and priorities for Nagaland such as requirement of a developmental model involving community, requirement of infrastructure actually needed and special focus on drinking water, health and education for people in the State. He also urged the Chief Minister to submit data on the existing roads, maintenance of roads and the immediate requirement of roads in the State. Singh assured all possible help and assistance to Nagaland and promised to bring the State at par with other developed states in the country.
The Chief Minister as finance minister of Nagaland also attended the conference of finance ministers, which was chaired by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. The meeting was essentially a pre-budget exercise to elicit the views and opinion of different states/Union territories.
In his opening address, Jaitley spelt out the immediate priorities of the Centre to control inflation. Zeliang raised the issues concerning poor financial health of Nagaland and drew the attention of the finance minister for making realistic and practical policies in the socio- economic sectors to help people of the State.
Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) Toshi Aier and Resident Commissioner Jyoti Kalash were also present in the conference.
