Nagaland chief minister, T.R. Zeliang, reiterated that the success of Kohima smart city project would depend on the involvement and contribution of the citizens of Kohima, particularly the landowners. He was speaking as the chief guest at the state level consultative meeting on smart cities at Secretariat conference hall, Monday.
Zeliang maintained that landowners ought to be willing to sacrifice individual interest for the larger cause of the whole community for a “fair and reasonable” amount of compensation as and when land was required for the project.
He lauded Kohima Village Council for showing equal concern and conveying their willingness to cooperate in smart city endeavour.
Rooting for an early proposal for ropeway in Kohima to ease traffic congestion, Zeliang mentioned that a DPR was submitted to the planning commission and urban ministry two years back but no sanction was accorded. However, he said when the same proposal was submitted, the French government agreed to sanction the project in principle.
In this regard, he advised the consultancy firm to include the DPR for ropeways in the presentation of Kohima smart city, as management for traffic congestion.
The chief minister also requested departments to co-operate with municipal affairs and the firm for preparing project report and signing MoU for smart city. He said Parliamentary Secretary municipal affairs and himself would be going to Delhi to meet with minister in-charge of urban development and also the union minister of state.
Zeliang pointed out that Kohima was severely limited of being a very old and unplanned city and what could be done was “retrofitting an old city” and not developing a new planned township.
Mooting on a “green city project”- a planned city located between Kohima and Dimapur, Zeliang opined that in the long run, only such a new planned city would be able to satisfy the aspirations of the present and future generation of Nagas. He urged urban planners to simultaneously start planning for such modern planned township as they go about trying to retrofit Kohima into a smarter city.
The chief Minister mentioned that the municipal affairs department and consultants were working very hard to make a better DPR presentation.
During the discussion, Advisor Treasuries and Accounts, relief & rehabilitation, Dr. TM Lotha wanted to include “strategic focus” on traffic congestion and road connectivity.
Home commissioner, Neihu C Thur, IAS asked to highlight disaster preparedness in the proposal as Kohima is prone to earthquake and landslide, also surviving earthquake of 6.7 magnitude recently, posing a stark reminder of basic core infrastructure.
Lamenting that JnNURM scheme “floundered” due to lack of professional workforce in the urban local body (ULB), Neihu suggested constituting an exclusive cadre for ULB, to maintain professional workforce.
Commissioner & Secretary Planning and Co-ordination, Himato Zhimomi suggested on “branding Naga heritage” instead of “branding tribal heritage”.
Commissioner secretary IT&C, KD Vizo asked to include Director for legal among the board of Directors in the special purpose vehicle (SPV).
OSD to NSDMA, Johnny Ruangmei pointed out the proposal to be specific in output indicator for areas that are to be retrofitted or redeveloped in order to build case better. He asked to include official of NSDMA in the SPV.
Minister forest, environment and climate change, Dr. Nicky Kire suggested on doing away with bus and accommodate small vehicle for faster public transport delivery. He also proposed on a ring road that connected Secretariat to BSF Lerie.
Advisor to CM, Lalthara, deputy commissioner (DC) Kohima, Rovilato Mor and representatives from departments such as power, PHED and transport participated in the discussion.
Presenting brief notes on the challenges and positive aspects on Kohima smart city, KMC administrator, Kovi Meyase said that the upgraded proposal intended to highlight key projects like sanitary landfill and compost plant, septage management unit, dry waste segregation and recycling unity, refurbishment and laying of water supply network, construction of five community block toilets and the upcoming modern abattoir.
Meyase said that for more revenue generation options through collection of property tax and other urban utility fees were being actively explored.
Informing that winning cities in the 23 cities in fast track competition would be eligible for funding in accelerated basis in 2016-17, Meyase said that 23 cities that did not meet the benchmark set by the winning cities would join in the challenge of main round two beginning this month where up to 40 cities were expected to be announced in August 2016.
While presenting brief notes on the smart city solution on Kohima Smart City, state consultant, Voyants Pvt. Ltd, highlighted on finalization and endorsement of SPV Structure, resolution of the corporation/council approving smart city plan including financial plan, resolution from directorate of municipal affairs for setting up SPV, remaining MoUs with various government and civil society groups etc.
The consultants sought for greater convergence of existing departmental schemes so that there was no duplication of capital investment plan with smart city and other schemes, as smart city has a limited fund of Rs. 1000 crore. The consultants also opined on looking at entertainment taxes, coordination fee for city centre and fees for vehicle from outside Kohima for revenue generation.
Welcome address was delivered by parliamentary secretary municipal affairs, Tohanba, while chief secretary and chairman HPSC SCM, Pankaj Kumar delivered keynote address.
The programme was chaired by secretary municipal affairs and chairman HPSC SCM, Dr. Maongwati Aier.