State chief minister Neiphiu Rio highlighted to Union Minister for Tourism, Culture & DoNER G Kishan Reddy, some important and urgent matters including setting up Dr. T. Ao Regional Football Academy, development works at Kohima Orphanage Home and solar power plants in 55 government office buildings in Nagaland.
Reddy, who called on Rio at his official residence in Kohima, said that both discussed about various development projects with regards to infrastructure and tourism. On the occasion, Rio also handed over a letter to union minister Reddy.
Rio, in the letter, said the North East Council (NE) had sanctioned the project for setting up Dr. T. Ao Regional Football Academy in Dimapur during the financial Year 2017-18 under HRD&E sector. While conveying the approval, Rio said the project implementation committee (PIC) had mentioned that the matter was subjected to technical vetting by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. On account of the delay in receipt of technical vetting report from the Ministry, he said NEC gave a closure order on “as is where is basis” and Nagaland government was asked to refund the first installment of Rs 250 lakh along with accrued bank interest.
In the meantime, he said the state government had already awarded the work and the physical works proportionate to the amount sanctioned for the first installment had already been done. On taking up the matter at the NEC meeting, the chief minister said the project has been retained by the NEC. He said that the state government has retained in the priority list. Therefore, Rio said that funding for the project should be provided on an urgent basis.
On development works at Kohima Orphanage Home, he said NEC had sanctioned and approved a project in 2017-18 and had released the first instalment towards the project. Rio said the state government had also released its share to ensure smooth implementation of the project.
As per the reports, he said 30 percent of the project was completed, however, in May 2020, he said NEC declared the project closed on “as is where is” and asked the State Government to refund the fund with accrued interest. Rio said the matter seemed to have been handled in a very insensitive manner with little regard for the welfare of the unfortunate orphans and underprivileged children. Rio, therefore, urged Reddy to restore the project so it could be completed at the earliest.
On solar power plants, Rio said NEC had approved the project for setting up of 855 kw off-grid solar power plants in 55 government office buildings for gap funding at an estimated cost of Rs. 661.39 lakh with 90:10 funding pattern. He said that the 1st and 2nd installments of NEC’s share amounting Rs. 400 lakh was released during 2017-18 and the corresponding State share amounting Rs. 44.44 lakh was also released during that year. Rio said total fund released for the gap funding of the project comes to Rs. 444.44 lakh.
Stating that the project was completed in all respect, Rio, however, said that the final installment of NEC’s share amounting Rs. 192.25 lakh was still pending for release, which he said was a committed liability.
Rio has, therefore, requested Reddy to look into the case favorably and consider for release of the final installment.