Kikheto Sema along with other officials during a review meeting held at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat in Kohima on July 22. (DIPR Photo)
Dimapur, July 22 (MExN): Nagaland Development Commissioner and Principal Secretary Y Kikheto Sema on Wednesday warned that the state government may initiate stringent action against defaulting departments, contractors and firms responsible for delays in implementing development projects, including blacklisting of habitual offenders.
Chairing a review meeting on projects funded by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat in Kohima, Sema said the implementation and outcomes of several projects in the state have been unsatisfactory despite substantial financial assistance from MDoNER and the North Eastern Council (NEC).
He said many projects have been delayed without valid reasons, leading to cost overruns and depriving the public of timely benefits. Funding agencies have also expressed concern over the implementation performance of several departments, he added.
Sema said the state government would strengthen its focus on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and urged all departments to work collectively to improve Nagaland's performance on SDG indicators.
While noting that some districts have shown encouraging progress, he said disparities remain and departments must align their planning and implementation with measurable development priorities to bridge infrastructure and service gaps and improve people's quality of life.
The Development Commissioner also expressed concern over poor utilisation of funds released by the Government of India, saying several departments have failed to draw and utilise funds available in the Central Nodal Account (CNA) despite repeated reminders.
He cautioned that unless departments improve project implementation, fully utilise released funds and submit utilisation certificates (UCs) and project completion reports on time, the state's chances of securing approval for new projects could be adversely affected, as MDoNER and the NEC assess the implementation status of ongoing projects while considering fresh proposals.
Referring to project planning, Sema said many departments had failed to submit proposals within the timelines prescribed in the Planning and Transformation Department's Calendar of Action for 2026-27. He directed departments to strictly adhere to the calendar and avoid the recurring practice of rushing projects towards the end of the financial year.
He instructed departments to complete preparatory work, including preparation of estimates, obtaining statutory clearances and completing the tendering process during the monsoon so that execution can begin immediately with the onset of the working season.
Highlighting the financial impact of implementation delays, Sema said the Nagaland government had refunded about Rs 32 crore to the Government of India in recent years due to delays, non-utilisation of funds and lapses in project execution. He described the refunds as a serious loss to the state and said such instances should not recur.
Emphasising accountability, Sema said erring departments would be held responsible, while contractors repeatedly failing to complete projects within approved timelines and prescribed specifications could face blacklisting.
He also directed all departments to regularly upload information on their activities, milestones and successful projects on official websites, dashboards and ministry portals or submit them to the Planning and Transformation Department for wider dissemination, observing that many notable initiatives remain unnoticed because of poor documentation.
Sema further asked departments to ensure that projects funded under MDoNER, NEC, External Aided Projects (EAP) and the State Plan are planned and implemented judiciously to address genuine developmental needs, bridge critical infrastructure and service gaps, generate employment opportunities and deliver measurable, people-centric outcomes. He urged departments to adopt a results-oriented approach so that development initiatives translate into tangible improvements in people's lives.
