DIMAPUR, December 1 (MExN): Nagaland state NCP has said the that decision to shift the Peren district headquarter en bloc to the new site minus infrastructure would do more harm than good to the general public of the district.
The last DPDB meeting of Peren district chaired by Planning & Co-ordination minister, TR Zeliang, had decided to shift the district headquarter to the new site, some 18 km from the present district headquarter Peren town, latest by January 20, 2012.
Talking to media persons at the NCP office Dimapur on Thursday, state NCP president, Neiba Ndang, said that any democratic popular government should look into interest and welfare of the public before taking any hasty decisions.
Ndang said that apart from the DC complex and a couple of other offices and staff quarters constructed recently, there is no other infrastructure or buildings and the new site still resembled a “jungle” without any human habitation. He said that besides the poor road and communication connectivity, water supply and electricity have yet to reach the new district headquarter site.
Stating that it would be ridiculous on the part of the government to shift all 40-odd government departments to the site at one go, the NCP president cited a number of problems if the headquarter was to be shifted immediately. Chief among the problems is the question of conveyance of both office employees as well as public. Ndang said that a few government officers can travel to their place of work in their allotted vehicles.
“But what about the Grade III and IV employees and the public? There is no bus service or other public transportation at the moment to the new site. One cannot expect them to walks 10-20 Km on foot. If the Government is interested in shifting to the new site, than it must be ready with the necessary infrastructure. Besides the public should be given land allotment so that they can come and settle at the new site,” he said.
The NCP president also reminded that earlier chief minister Neiphiu Rio at the Peren Road Show-cum-Miliengyi/Hega festival in March this year, commented on the slow pace of development works at the new district headquarter site. Ndang further alleged that the pace of development at the new site was not commensurate with the fund allocated.
“Even the chief minister who came by chopper to attend the festival had to land at an empty field Kejanglwa village as the helipad at the new site was not ready,” he added.
The last DPDB meeting of Peren district chaired by Planning & Co-ordination minister, TR Zeliang, had decided to shift the district headquarter to the new site, some 18 km from the present district headquarter Peren town, latest by January 20, 2012.
Talking to media persons at the NCP office Dimapur on Thursday, state NCP president, Neiba Ndang, said that any democratic popular government should look into interest and welfare of the public before taking any hasty decisions.
Ndang said that apart from the DC complex and a couple of other offices and staff quarters constructed recently, there is no other infrastructure or buildings and the new site still resembled a “jungle” without any human habitation. He said that besides the poor road and communication connectivity, water supply and electricity have yet to reach the new district headquarter site.
Stating that it would be ridiculous on the part of the government to shift all 40-odd government departments to the site at one go, the NCP president cited a number of problems if the headquarter was to be shifted immediately. Chief among the problems is the question of conveyance of both office employees as well as public. Ndang said that a few government officers can travel to their place of work in their allotted vehicles.
“But what about the Grade III and IV employees and the public? There is no bus service or other public transportation at the moment to the new site. One cannot expect them to walks 10-20 Km on foot. If the Government is interested in shifting to the new site, than it must be ready with the necessary infrastructure. Besides the public should be given land allotment so that they can come and settle at the new site,” he said.
The NCP president also reminded that earlier chief minister Neiphiu Rio at the Peren Road Show-cum-Miliengyi/Hega festival in March this year, commented on the slow pace of development works at the new district headquarter site. Ndang further alleged that the pace of development at the new site was not commensurate with the fund allocated.
“Even the chief minister who came by chopper to attend the festival had to land at an empty field Kejanglwa village as the helipad at the new site was not ready,” he added.
