Adviser, Land Resources, G. Ikuto Zhimomi with Secretary NEC, Satinder Kumar Bhalla, and other officials. (DIPR Photo)
Kohima, October 4 (MExN): Secretary, North Eastern Council (NEC), Satinder Kumar Bhalla has called on Nagaland to submit ambitious, long-term project proposals as the State seeks to accelerate development across sectors. Bhalla made the call during a meeting with State officials at Polo Hotel, Aradura Hill, Kohima, on October 2, following his visit to Touphema coffee plantations, the State Museum and Kisama Heritage Village.
The meeting was attended by G. Ikuto Zhimomi, Adviser, Land Resources, and senior officers from the Tourism, Art & Culture, Land Resources, Eco & Statistics and Planning & Transformation Departments. Principal Secretary and Development Commissioner Y. Kikheto Sema said Nagaland has received Rs 1,644.36 crore from the NEC for 252 projects across the State over the past 22 years. He thanked the NEC for its continued support to Nagaland.
Sema highlighted the State’s natural resources, biodiversity, cultural heritage and favourable climate as opportunities for economic development. He pointed to the potential of coffee, tea and rubber plantations and said Nagaland has a vision to expand coffee cultivation to 50,000 hectares by 2030. He identified health, education, roads, infrastructure, tourism, meat, egg and fish production as areas requiring greater investment. He also called for greater focus on eco-tourism, agro-tourism and forest tourism by making better use of the State’s natural and cultural resources.
On culture and tourism, Sema said Nagaland’s culture is its “strength and identity” and should be linked with tourism and economic development. He also sought greater flexibility in cost norms for the Northeastern States, particularly Nagaland, citing difficult terrain, high transportation costs and other geographical challenges.
Responding to the issues raised, Bhalla said the NEC is looking forward to receiving a comprehensive “wish list” of projects from Nagaland. He encouraged the State to think beyond small projects and prepare ambitious, long-term proposals up to 2047 in line with the vision of Viksit Nagaland@2047. For tourism, Bhalla suggested developing an “iconic tourism circuit” covering key destinations across Nagaland and adopting a “One District, One Destination” approach.
He also highlighted the economic potential of Nagaland’s forests, saying conservation and development can go together. He pointed to opportunities in carbon credits, e-sports, IT, IT-enabled services and cultural heritage, among other sectors, for creating employment while protecting the environment. Bhalla further encouraged greater value addition and processing of local agricultural produce within the State to reduce wastage and increase returns to farmers.
