First green village in India
Sano Meru
October 25
Khonoma, (MExN): Much to India’s envy, the Western Angami hamlet of Khonoma was officially inaugurated as the country’s first Green Village by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today.
Nestled among the picturesque hills of God’s very own country, Khonoma is renowned for its glorious past of valiant warriors and victorious battles, each a testimony against the mighty British Empire besides being the native birthplace of Late AZ Phizo, the most renowned Naga revolutionary apart from other prominent Naga leaders.
The Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio addressed a mammoth gathering after inaugurating the village gate in the presence of high profile dignitaries such as Assembly Speaker Kiyanielie Peseyie, Minister PHED and Land Revenue P Longon, Minister for Health & Family Welfare and Excise, Dr. TM Lotha, Parliamentary Secretaries Kaito, MC Konyak and R. Khing, MLA Vatsü Meru, Commissioner and Secretary (Tourism), Khekiye K. Sema besides other top government officials. The Chief Minister said that Khonoma was a blessing for Nagaland to be proud of. Thanking the villagers for extending full cooperation towards the implementation of the Government’s programmes and policies, Rio said that Khonoma Village had added another historical feather to its cap by becoming a model village for other Naga villages to follow.
Implying that Communitisation was basically about community participation in the Government’s functioning, the Chief Minister called upon the people to extend their fullest support towards achieving maximum results.
Khonoma is the first ever Green Village in the entire country and hence, he called upon the people of the village to maintain the status that it has achieved. Urging the people to adopt a work culture, the Chief Minister also said that with the advent of technology and its related studies to which Nagas were no strangers, it would be highly beneficial if the qualified and educated people utilized their knowledge and work for the betterment of the State. Maintaining that tourists talk only about the Naga War Cemetery, Rio said that the Naga people should be environment-conscious by preserving and developing the rich natural flora and fauna in order to turn the tourists into ambassadors of the beauty and aesthetic culture of Nagaland.
“We should uphold the traditions of our forefathers and preserve our rich cultural heritage. Tourists only talk about the War Cemetery when they visit the state capital. It is a shame because Nagaland is endowed with natural beauty in itself. So, it is up to us to develop our God given gifts for other people to talk about,” Rio said.
Taking the example of Sikkim’s beauty, the Chief Minister said that Nagaland should also develop a similar attitude. He said that the declaration of the year 2006 as the ‘Year of the Farmers,’ besides other factors, would also be for the beautification and enrichment of our natural environment.
Expressing full satisfaction with the Khonoma Public Commission, Rio was appreciative of the Cardamom plantations, Tragopan Sanctuary (supposedly the only one in the world) besides the high level of civic sense that the villagers have. Besides, the uniqueness of the Khonoma Green Village Project lies in the fact that it is the only one of its kind to have gone through the Environment Impact Assessment Study done by the famed Centre for Environmental Education, India.
A number of the dignitaries present at the function also addressed the gathering. Earlier in the programme, a number of colorful cultural items were presented by the villagers. A Construction Report of Khonoma Gate was also tabled by Er. Kevisekho Kruse while Khonoma Tourism Development Board (KTDB) Treasurer Kolachalie Seyie gave a brief report of the Green Village Project. Lady Wife of the Chief Minister Kaisa Rio also spoke on the topic ‘Nature’s Utopia’. Besides felicitation of the dignitaries, short speeches were also delivered by village and tribal leaders. The function was followed by a grand community feast hosted by the Rho-u Kuotsu Kikramia. It may be mentioned that the entire cost of the project came to the tune of Rs 3 crores sponsored by the Union Ministry of Tourism and Department of Tourism, Government of Nagaland.
