DIMAPUR, MAY 20 (MExN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today said an interim solution should be sought by the Centre and the NSCN (IM) if it becomes extremely difficult to find a settlement even after a period of nine years of ceasefire between negotiating sides. He said this could be done by taking into consideration what is acceptable to the Nagas and what is agreeable to the Centre.
Condemning the internecine killings between warring NSCN factions “as any sensible person would,” he said the armed organizations opposed to each other should come to a meeting point irrespective of disagreements. He was harping on the need for generating dialogue between the two groups. “The Central Government should put pressure on the factions” to end the killings, he said.
When enquired on if Nagaland could look forward to a World Cup without power cuts, he said the recent privatization of electricity generating units would hopefully generate enough power from the following month. He informed that the Power Department in Nagaland loses Rs 25-30 crores annually. He said outside supply of electricity to the state would never be sufficient as the demand far surpasses the supply. “We are a poor State,” he said. The creation of power projects within Nagaland can greatly ease the problem, he said. He said electricity theft should be stopped and bills should be promptly paid on time.
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