KOHIMA, SEPTEMBER 24 (MExN): Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio today highlighted stalled development projects in the State to Union Minister for Tourism, Culture & DoNER, G Kishan Reddy in Kohima on September 24.
Three developmental works in particular—Dr T Ao Regional Football Academy, Kohima Orphanage Home and off grid solar power plants—were highlighted.
He informed the Union Minister that the North East Council had sanctioned setting up of the Dr T Ao Regional Football Academy at Dimapur during 2017-18. The Project Implementation Committee (PIC) had mentioned that the matter is subjected to technical vetting by the Ministry of Youth Affairs &Sports.
On account of the delay in receipt of technical vetting report, the NEC gave a closure order on “’as is where is basis” whereby the Government of Nagaland was asked to refund the first installment of Rs 250 Lakhs along with accrued bank interest. In the meantime, the Government of Nagaland had already awarded the work and the physical works proportionate to the amount sanctioned for the first installment had already been done.
The project has been retained by the NEC, the CM informed and urged that funding be provided on an urgent basis.
Regarding another NEC sanctioned project, the Kohima Orphanage & Destitute Home, the CM informed that the NEC had released the first installment. The Nagaland Government had also released the State’s share and 30 percent of the project has been completed.
However, the CM said that in May 2020, the NEC declared the project closed on “as is where is” and asked for refund from the State Government. Stating that the matter was handled in an “insensitive manner,” the CM asked that the project be restored.
Further, the CM informed that the NEC had approved setting up of 855 kw off-grid solar power plants in 55 government office buildings at an estimated cost of Rs. 661.39 lakh with 90:10 funding pattern. The 1st and 2nd installments of NEC’s share (Rs 400 lakh) were released in 2017-18 and corresponding State share (Rs. 44.44 lakh) was also released during that year.
The project, he informed, is completed in all respect. However, final installment of NEC’s share (Rs 192.25 lakh) is still pending for release, the CM said. He urged the Union Minister to look into the case and facilitate release of the final installment.
