Azheto Zhimomi unhappy over cabinet’s flip-flop on district boundary demarcation

Expressing dismay over the state cabinet’s flip-flop on demarcation of boundary following the carving out of Niuland and Chümoukedma districts from Dimapur district, Azheto Zhimomi, MLA, on Monday said that the state Cabinet changing its decision on every sitting was not wise.
In an interview with Nagaland Post at his residence Monday, Zhimomi stated that after widespread opposition against the order to shift Dimapur DC office to Chumoukedima, all the five MLAs under Dimapur– Tovihoto Ayemi, Moatoshi Longkumer, Azheto Zhimomi, Jacob Zhimomi and Zhaleo Rio– were called by chief minister for a meeting to discuss the issue.
At the meeting, he claimed that all five MLAs suggested the chief minister to constitute Urban DC at Chümoukedima and Rural DC at Dimapur since there were provisions for such arrangements. After several months, Zhimomi said that the state home department on November 12, 2021 directed DC Dimapur to hold consultative meeting with the five MLAs and submit report for creation for Chümoukedima and Niuland districts.
He said all five MLAs were in support of the creation Niuland district since District Planning and Development Board had already given the green signal for it. With regard to creation Chümoukedmia district, he said all five MLAs agreed to support, although it was a new step, but suggested that proper demarcation should be made before notification.
However, he lamented that the state government, without consulting the MLAs and affected area stakeholders, issued the notification on December 20, 2021, on the separation and creation of Niuland and Chümoukedma from Dimapur.
He said that initially East Dimapur and Dhansaripar block were all put under Chümoukedima district. However, after complaints, he said East Dimapur was returned to Dimapur. MLA said that after several meetings with Joint Coordination Committee of Villages (JCCV) for Dimapur district, the committee also agreed to stay under Chümoukedima district.
Zhimomi, however, claimed that the state cabinet, without revoking December 20 notification, on June 3, 2022 took the decision on the demarcation, placing several Sumi villages under Dhansaripar block under Peren district. He said the Western Sumi Hoho (WSH), in this regard, has recently served an ultimatum on the state government to revoke June 3 order and stick to December 20 notification.
Asserting that Cabinet should be aware of what it was were doing, Azheto said one should be aware of past notifications and not make orders without consulting past orders.
“The decisions of the cabinet should be very clear and should incorporate with the previous order and statements,” he stated.
He also stated that changing of decision on every sitting of Cabinet was not wise, adding that this was the reason why demarcation of Chümoukedima district could not happen till now.