DIMAPUR, JUL 8 (NPN): Lotha Lower Range Public Organisation (LLRPO) has urged the Nagaland government to take decisive and time-bound measures on issues relating to the disputed area belt (DAB), border administration, oil exploration and infrastructure, stating that these were critical not only to the Lotha community but also to the territorial integrity, governance and long-term interests of the state.
In a press release, the organisation expressed concern over anomalies and inaccuracies in geo-tagged state boundaries on digital mapping platforms such as Google Maps, where Nagaland administrative territories were shown under Assam.
It said such discrepancies had the potential to create confusion, weaken administrative claims and undermine the state’s position on jurisdiction and boundary administration.
LLRPO appealed to the government to initiate the necessary process with the appropriate authorities to rectify the errors and ensure Nagaland’s official geographical boundaries were accurately reflected and notified.
On inter-state border management, LLRPO said Assam was routinely represented in border coordination meetings by senior officials such as the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police, while Nagaland was often represented by comparatively junior officers such as the SDO (Civil) and SDPO.
It said this disparity weakened the state’s administrative standing and decision-making capacity, and urged the government to ensure that senior-ranking officers were deputed to all official border meetings.
The organisation said strengthening administrative operations in the region was one of the reasons behind the demand for creation of a separate Bhandari district.
It also stressed the need to establish an Excise outpost headed by an inspector to tackle the menace of drugs and illicit substances along the Wokha-Merapani road.
Recognising the strategic importance of the western Naga border, LLRPO also called for the appointment of a dedicated Border Magistrate for Bhandari subdivision to improve responses to recurring border issues and strengthen governance and law enforcement. It further sought establishment of a dedicated Inner Line Permit (ILP) cell at the check gate to check the influx of illegal immigrants.
The organisation also supported the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Lotha Hoho and the state government. It sought clear assurances on the rehabilitation and welfare of communities affected by oil exploration and appealed to the government to publish a clear digital map with geo-coordinates of DAB regions and a list of all affected villages to ensure transparency and avoid confusion. It also sought clarification on whether the first phase of exploration would begin only in DAB areas or also in areas outside the DAB, since the tripartite agreement did not concern areas within Nagaland outside the DAB.
On infrastructure, LLRPO reiterated the need to resume the second phase of the Foothills Road project at the earliest, while urging implementing agencies to maintain quality, durability and accountability. It said it would actively monitor the quality of workmanship throughout the project.
The organisation said it had constituted separate sub-committees on the oil issue, border and seed farm, Foothills Road and legal affairs, and urged the government to address the issues with urgency, transparency and commitment.
Thursday, July 9, 2026