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DIMAPUR— Governor of Nagaland, La. Ganesan on Friday said Niuland, being relatively a new district, may face challenges including infrastructure but assured that the government is aware of these shortcomings and is diligently working towards addressing it.
Speaking during the meeting with the civil society leaders and heads of departments at the DC conference hall in Niuland, he said the district, being strategically positioned bordering with Chümoukedima, Wokha, Dimapur, Kohima and Tseminyu districts as well as Assam state, has the potential to serve as a transport hub and transit point.
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Niuland can also serve as a crucial gateway to Assam and other parts of the country, offering promising opportunities for development and connectivity, he added.
While sharing that the Botsa-Niuland-Bokajan road is progressing, as updated by the NHIDCL officials, the governor said he had written to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari regarding the trans Nagaland Foothill Road project, the route that connects all the western districts of the state with Niuland as an important transit point.
“These road will connect and open up areas for socio-economic development, which otherwise were left neglected for very long time in the past,” he said.
He added that improvement in road connectivity will enhance market linkage to sell agriculture produce from the district.
The governor expressed concern over a significant portion of the population, about 70%, still relying on subsidised food grains from the Centre despite as much population of the state engaging in agriculture. This, he said, hints at a substantial gap between production and consumption, and advised the people to shift towards scientific farming methods for self-sufficiency in food products.
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He said Niuland, like other any districts in the country, should have good basic infrastructures -- education, healthcare serviced, good roads and adequate banking facilities. He also requested the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) to ensure that every citizen in Niuland have access to clean drinking water through the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scheme.
He also encouraged the citizens, particularly women to Jan-Dhan account to avail banking facilities.
Earlier in the meeting, Deputy Commissioner of Niuland, Sara S Jamir delivered the welcome address. Presidents of Western Sumi Hoho, Yimkhiung Arihako Niuland District, Niuland District GBs’ Association, and Niuland District Citizens’ Forum also spoke, mainly stressing on the need to upgrading infrastructural facilities in the new district.
In the second session, the District Tuberculosis Officer, Executive Engineer of PWD (R&B), Executive Engineer of PHED, and the Lead Bank Manager gave presentations on their respective departmental activities.