On the second day of the ongoing session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA), ministers in-charge of various departments responded to several starred and unstarred question raised by members.
SGDP at Rs 22,111 cr (2022-23): Leader of the house and chief minister Neiphiu Rio on Tuesday informed the house that the State Gross Domestic Product (SGDP) for financial year (2022-23) stood at Rs. 22,111 crore (Advance Estimate) with growth rate of 8.84%.
He was responding to an unstarred questioned raised by NPF Legislature Party Leader Kuzholuzo Azo. Rio also informed that the status for SGDP for financial year (2021-22) was Rs 20315 crore (Quick Estimates) with growth rate of 9.09% while the per capita income for financial year 2021-22 was Rs 142363.
Rio informed that Nagaland ranked 26th in terms of SGDP. He further provided some key measures taken up by the state government to improve the SGDP.
RIIN an ongoing process: The Registry of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) was an ongoing process and further measures for giving effect to its objectives and streamlining and strengthening of the mode of issuance of Indigenous Inhabitant Certificate were under the consideration of the state government. This was disclosed by deputy chief minister Y Patton while replying to an unstarred question of NPF legislator Kuzholuzo Azo Neinu regarding the status of RIIN on the second day of the second session of the 14th Assembly session here on Tuesday.
PHE: Meanwhile, Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) minister Jacob Zhimomi said augmentation of water supply to Kohima town under Zarü project, which was commissioned on March 26, 2021, was presently non-functional due to extensive damage to the Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) at the first stage of pumping station.
He was responding to an unstarred question by legislator Kevipodi Sophie on the status of the water supply project at Mima village. Zhimomi informed the House that the total cost of the project was Rs 46.74 crore and, as maintenance funds were not provided within the cost of the project, the PHED had to meet the operation and maintenance expenditure under the Annual Non Development (Non plan) fund.
Tribal Affairs: Responding to an unstarred question of NPF legislator Kuzholuzo Neinu on the Grants provision to Article 275(1), chief minister Neiphiu Rio and Tribal Affairs adviser Tovihoto Aye shared the details and list of the projects under Article 275(1).
Gas pipeline: PWD (R&B) minister G Kaito Aye said IGGL had been authorised by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) to execute Dergaon (Assam)-Dimapur-Kohima-Imphal pipeline. He was responding to a starred question of Achumbemo Kikon, MLA, with regard to Indradhanush Gas Grid Ltd (IGGL) at the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Tuesday.
It was brought to the notice of the Assembly that several GIS pipelines had been laid through 1,320 acres of seed farm at Merapani and even an NOC had been issued by Merapani border magistrate on January 15. 2023.
In this regard, Kikon raised questions regarding the work of such a magnitude, including laying of pipelines from Assam via Nagaland to Manipur for more than a month, and demanded that the matter should be dealt by the highest office and expressed concern. He said the state should be aware of the consequences and life-threatening issues related to the pipeline and sought assurance from the authorities concerned to ensure proper fencing in the seed farm area.
Commenting on the issue, chief minister Neiphiu Rio said all activities in the state were not progressing as it should be due to the unresolved Naga issue and in view of the Naga nationalists groups’ ceasefire and dialogue.
He noted that with regard to the peculiar land issue, civil society organisations stressed that land laws should not be relaxed even for economic activities, while several had spoken against special economic development zones.
He mentioned that though a resolution was passed, until the village, land owners or tribal hohos gave clearance, the government could not continue. However, wherever it was possible, he assured that the state government would go ahead because it needed to provide land for investors in the oil and natural gas sector.
Claiming that Nagaland was rich in petroleum and natural gas, Rio recalled that Assam had also recently offered to share oil royalty with Nagaland on 50:50 basis, but the Nagas, including Naga groups, called for not taking up anything.
Pointing out that it was an important topic that needed more discussion, he suggested constituting a high-level committee headed by chief secretary along with technical experts and other officers, and provide a timeline for their findings and explore more on the issue.
Human-Animal conflict: Responding to another starred question raised by Achumbemo Kikon, Forest, Environment & Climate Change minister CL John mentioned that the department has been working to contain the Human-Animal conflict through a combination of short term and long- term measures. With regard to financial assistance, CL John informed that upto Rs 5 lakh was provided to the family in case of death and Rs 50,000 in case of injury.
He, however, said that there was no policy to provide government jobs victims. He said that the Ministry has also been working on preparation of the National Elephant Management Plan based on inputs from experts which will help in better management of conflict areas.
Phone tapping: On the query raised by NPF legislator Kuzholuzo Nienu, of Guidelines and Rules for phone tapping and what were the rules and sops taken by the Home department etc., deputy CM Y Patton said that the rules and SOPS were followed on lawful interception by the state in accordance with the provision under relevant Sections of the Indian Telegraph Act 1885, Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules 2007, IT Amendment Act, 2008 and Information Technology (procedure & safeguards for interception, monitoring & Decryption of information) Rules, 2009.
He also said that in the interest of security of the state, public order and for preventing incitement to the commission of offence, the number of telephonic interceptions that were done was confidential, while keeping in mind the safety of the state as well as privacy of the people.
Railway connectivity: Replying to NPP legislator Noklutoshi’s starred question, minister P Paiwang Konyak claimed that the state government desired to have the best connectivity through airways, railways and waterways in the state.
He mentioned that Tuli station, which had served rail passengers from December 2002 to July 2007, was connected with Amguri. However, due to poor patronisation, he admitted that the passenger services were withdrawn after July 2007. He said the ministry had rejected the contention that there was no revenue.
Gr-IV Appointment: Responding to LJP (RV) MLA, Naiba Konyak’s query on landowner’s rights for appointment of Grade-IV staff and the guidelines etc., chief minister Neiphiu Rio said based on the cabinet approval made on December 13, 2017 the Land Revenue department had issued notification on March 5, 2018.
Further, as mentioned on September 26, 2017, Rio said all direct recruitment vacancies of Grade-IV post in the district offices of the department shall be filled by the respective indigenous inhabitants of the district only. He also mentioned that if the appointed landowner retires or vacates the post, the vacancy would be filled up through open advertisement in consonance with the existing government policy giving equal opportunity to all applicants.