Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 24
A Government resolution for setting up of Nagaland Special Development Zones (NSDZs) was adopted in the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly session here today.
This resolution was moved by Minister for planning & coordination, evaluation and geology & mining, T.R. Zeliang, on Saturday.
This resolution was moved by Minister for planning & coordination, evaluation and geology & mining, T.R. Zeliang, on Saturday.
Before the adoption of this resolution, Chief minister Neiphiu Rio, CLP leader Tokheho Yepthomi and several others shared their opinions and suggestions.
Rio informed that the State Government had already held several consultations with the tribe Hohos with regard to the NSDZs and received No Objection Letters from the civil societies for the same. Some, according to Rio, also wrote to the Government to “take their areas” and declare them as SDZs.
Rio said that this has been arrived at only after consultation with civil societies and deputy commissioners as the Government is “very careful” about ownership of land and its resources. “We are not going to infringe on Article 371(A),” Rio said. The Government, he said, will not impose on anyone who disagreed.
T.R. Zeliang said the NSDZs are the brainchild of Neiphiu Rio and is the natural outcome of the DAN government’s commitment to economic empowerment of the Nagas. He said the decision to open Nagaland for “grand investments” along the foothills for macro-economic activities is a historic one.
He informed that there are also those who think that customary laws relating to ownership of land and its resources need to be “tinkered with” for a successful economic advent. There can be no alienation of land, but investors can be allowed access for any number of years for an access fee, Zeliang said.
He also stated that landowners, State Government and investors must repose trust in customary adjudicatory mechanisms so that “our economic enterprises are not locked up in Indian courts leading to attrition of our ambitious for faster growth.”
The minister also made clear that the government resolution on NSDZ rules will be framed after consultation with land owners and civil societies and the same will be brought back to the assembly.
Appreciating the Chief Minister for evolving idea for setting up of NSDZs, Tokheho said that it is a time for us to “start with such activities.” He, however, noted that since the parliament had passed a Land Acquisition Bill, the Government should spare money for land compensation.
Referring to the clause “to evolve a system of permanent settlement for non-Nagas, for the purposes of investment in the NSDZs in the form of special land access permits to be issued by the state government in this behalf,” Tokheho suggested that land should be given on lease to those interested in investing in the NSDZs. He was apprehensive that if land is given for permanent settlement, there will be a problem for future generations.
Dr. T. M. Lotha also felt that land for the purpose of NSDZs should be on lease. He further added that before the resolution is passed, the Government should go to the people and have thorough discussions with them.
C. Apok Jamir said that Nagaland is a small state for which vulnerability has to be considered while framing rules for the SDZs.
