The sessions of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) represent the highest forum of legislative deliberation in the state. These sessions determine how policies for the future are to be formulated while also reviewing past developmental activities.
The examination of past performance and the discussion, scrutiny, and implementation of policies for future development constitute the highest form of legislative exercise in a democracy.
In the recent NLA session, the foreclosure of road construction projects from Chendang-Saddle to Noklak–Pangsha Phase II and from Noklak to Thonoknyu via Sanglao was brought up for discussion. The reason given for the foreclosure was “landslide and most importantly disturbances from the land owners seeking land compensation along the alignment.”
Achumbemo Kikon, Advisor for SCERT and Food Processing, stated, “all these projects, we cannot keep blaming the government. Our own people, because of these landowners compensation issues. Hence an amount of 1,570.97 lakh was refunded to the Government of India and the project was closed…”
However, in direct contrast to the justification presented in the NLA, the Chief Engineer of PWD (R&B), as reported in local dailies on 29th October 2026, stated that the projects were closed due to the discontinuation of the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) scheme by the Ministry of DoNER. Regarding the landslides and monsoon cinditions in Noklak, there were a few and countable, in areas such as Woithsoi (Noklak), Som area (Nokhu) near Laang river etc., and the downpour of the Shimong River between Noklak and Pangsha.
Yet, in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, the land and people of Noklak were made scapegoats for the lack of developmental projects in the area. Such mistreatment and justification reveal the attitude of the contractors and the concerned department towards the people. From contractors giving petty excuses to the department to save their faces, to the department allowing the Advisor to present such justifications on the highest legislative platform, the entire episode is a classic case of the guilty pointing fingers at the innocent to escape accountability.
The Nagas are watching their representatives. The people of Noklak are waiting for a blacktopped road to travel on, even once in their lifetime. Stop giving excuses. Save whatever little dignity is left. And don’t sacrifice the people of Noklak to redeem the wrongs you have done.
Concerned Citizen of Noklak
Dr. Heme Lamthaiu
Lower Chandmari Colony, Kohima
Monday, November 2, 2026