Dzukou fires, youth training issues raised in NLA

Several issues including forest fire incidents at Dzukou Valley and skill training for youth were raised through starred questions on the fourth day of the eighth session of the Assembly here on Tuesday.
Concern over Dzukou fires: In another starred question, LJP (RV) legislator Naiba Konyak raised concern over recurring fire incidents at Dzukou Valley and sought information on preventive measures.
Replying to the query, Rio said no culprit behind the incidents had been identified or apprehended so far. On the expenditure incurred for hiring helicopters to extinguish forest fires since 2023, he informed that bills for the latest hiring of Indian Air Force choppers were yet to be received.
Rio said the department had undertaken several preventive measures including training community volunteers from Western and Southern Angami areas in collaboration with the Angami Youth Organisation at Khonoma in March 2025.
He said the government was also planning to establish watch towers for early detection of fires in high-risk zones, procure firefighting equipment such as beaters, drones and water backpacks, create and maintain fire lines, train Rapid Response Teams, install early warning systems including SMS alerts and sirens, and deploy drone surveillance to monitor inaccessible areas.
Mechanical training institute: Replying to another starred question raised by Nuklutoshi, minister for Housing and Mechanical Engineering P. Bashangmongba Chang informed the House that the Modern Mechanical Workshop-cum-Training Institute (MMWTI) had started training local youth in the operation and maintenance of heavy vehicles and machinery.
He said the institute, in collaboration with the Nagaland Skill and Entrepreneurship Development Mission, trained 45 local youths between October and December in trades such as backhoe loader operator, track excavator operator, tipper truck driver, tandem road roller operator and heavy machinery mechanic.
Meanwhile, Rio expressed satisfaction that more Naga youths were undergoing technical training and entering such fields, and assured that the government would extend additional support if required to expand training programmes and create more employment opportunities for local youths.