Nagaland transport dept inducts 20 new buses during 2020-21

Our Correspondent
Kohima | February 12

Nagaland’s Governor RN Ravi today said that the Department of Transport further enhanced the reach of NST by inducting in its fleet another 20 new buses during 2020-21.

The Department also played a significant role in the fight against COVID-19. It deployed more than 80 (eighty) Buses for ferrying the returnees to their respective District Head Quarters and within their Districts; and including other Covid-19 related duties since March 2020 till Oct 2020, a total of 3,04,150 KM was covered by the NST buses.

In 2021-22, the Department plans to acquire 13 (thirteen) new buses and also complete the ongoing projects at several heliports, said Ravi in his address in the 7th session of 13th NLA.

He said the Department of Science & Technology during the current financial year, has completed the construction of a 50-seater Digital Planetarium and an Innovation Hub at S&T Complex, Kohima.

In 2021-22 the Department among others, plan to finish installation of equipments at Digital Planetarium & Innovation Hub, carry out science popularization programmes at District Head Quarters and continue assisting the rural high schools by providing science equipment kits.

The Department of New & Renewable Energy for the Tsutsung Small Hydro Power (1MW) has completed trial run along with the construction of 33kV transmission line for evacuation of power from Tsutsung generating station to 132/66/33kV sub-station at Aolichen, Mokokchung.

The commissioning of the Project is expected to be done by the end of the current financial year.

Under the Solar Study Lamp scheme, 24,000 units of solar study lamps are to be distributed to the Government school students up to Class 12th standard at a subsidized rate. The program is under progress, he said.

He said Nagaland is endowed with significant mineral resources in the form of Coal, Limestone, Magnetite, Oil & Natural Gas & Building materials as the major mineral resources.

The Geology & Mining Department’s activity focuses on the updation and evaluation of its mineral resources in line with the National Mineral Resource classification and Reporting system so as to generate data and to provide perspective for policies and decisions in exploitation of the resources.

He said the regional coal exploration in Melak-Tzurang valley coalfield of Mokokchung district by the Department is a continuous activity where coal resources have been upgraded by an increment of 177.24 MT from 2 blocks in addition to 315.41 MT (DGM 2008). Besides the reported 16.30 MT Magnetite resource, the Department has also undertaken exploration of the Nickel-Cobalt-Chromium-Magnetite deposit of Mollen-Jopi-Zipu areas of Naga Hill Ophiolite in Kiphire district which has given positive results. The Department is carrying out Seismic micro-zonation of Greater Dimapur city in collaboration with NEIST, Jorhat and NSDMA.

“It is targeted to be completed by 2021. The objective of this study is to establish data for sustainable urban planning and earthquake hazard mitigation measures.” Ravi said.

He said the state government has remained committed towards the goal of bringing the underdeveloped areas of the state on par with the more advanced and developed areas.

“The Department of Underdeveloped Areas (DUDA), since its creation in 2003 has been working towards this end. It has in the underdeveloped areas taken up several developmental programmes in sectors such as health, education, agri & allied, infrastructure and road connectivity, under Border Area Development Programme (BADP) and Underdeveloped Areas Programme (UDAP), Ravi said.

The Department is also implementing the 'Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) & Minimum Support Price (MSP) and development of value chain for MFP' under TRIFED, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, GoI from 2018-19.

Under this scheme, 380 SHGs under 38 VDVKs have been formed thus benefitting 11,400 households.

They are actively involved in elevating the livelihood of farmers and Minor Forest Produce gatherers. Initiating a COVID-19 Response Plan for Livelihood Activities, DUDA initiated income generating activities for the rural populace by way of providing machineries to farmers and procure farmers’ products. In the coming financial year, the Department plans to implement programmes with specific focus on livelihood, human resource development, infrastructure development, and such similar economic activities in the backward areas.