DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 13 (MExN): The Hovukhu Village Council, Niuland, Dimapur, has submitted a Memorandum and ultimatum to Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Communications and Information Technology, Kapil Sibal during the latter’s visit on October 13 concerning what it saw as the “sudden shift” of NIT campus from Niuland to Chumukedima.
The memorandum made a request and ultimatum to bring back the NIT campus to its original proposed location in Niuland. The Hovukhu Village Council expressed utter shock by the decision taken by the Nagaland Government to “hurriedly lay the foundation stone of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Nagaland on October 13, 2012 at Chumukedima”.
“The process and decision for shifting the NIT Campus from originally proposed Niuland Campus to temporary Chumukedima Campus was taken without any valid reason, proper procedure, and proper consultation with the people of Hovukhu, Niuland though all the formalities for setting up the NIT campus at Niuland had already been finalized during the visit of Shri Ashok Thakur, Special Secretary, MHRD, Government of India on January 14, 2012.
He had already assured the villagers to invest 400 to 500 crores for setting up the NIT at Niuland Campus”, stated the memorandum signed by Viniho Achumi (Shikhu) Head GB, Hovukhu village on behalf of NIT Niuland Campus Land Donors and Area Citizens.
Similarly, the memorandum stated that the NIT Director Prof. N V Deshpande had also visited the proposed NIT Niuland Campus site and expressed his satisfaction after which, land procurement procedures were initiated. During this visit he also called on Minister for Urban Development and Higher Education, Nagaland. The Minister according to the memorandum had assured that all the necessary works like realignment of road and proper demarcation with fencing of the acquired site would be taken care by the government. “The site was fit to set up NIT Campus and therefore was approved. Then why change a plan all of a sudden? There is a dodgy dealing that needs to be investigated”.
While stating that for the purpose of shifting the NIT to Nagaland, 300 acres of land has already been procured in Niuland and pointed out that it was ready to offer 200 acres or more towards the expansion of the campus. “Whereas the location of Chumukedima Campus doesn’t meet the requirement set forth to establish the NIT Campus. The temporary Chumukedima Campus premises is not only hilly where big and tall building complex is unfit to construct but also doesn’t have enough land to offer NIT for expansion in near future”, the memorandum stated.
The memorandum also stated that if the decision to shift the NIT Campus from Niuland to Chumukedima goes ahead it will be a “total disregard to the plight of the citizens of Niuland area on Government’s part as it would exactly seem taking from the poor to give to the rich” and that “things have been snatched away from the people of Niuland area which is very unconstitutional and violating”.
Stating that the Government of the day has betrayed the trust, generosity and goodwill of the people by hijacking the project, the memorandum pointed out that the people of Niuland area have already lost confidence on Nagaland Government as they have shown their true motive playing divisive role and directly favouring one party over other. “The clarification they (Nagaland government) gave today (October 13, 2012) regarding the reasons for the shift of NIT Campus from Niuland to Chumukedima is misleading, face saving, half-truth and manipulated clarification. They are no more the guardian of its citizens, thus, we look upon you Sir to intervene and respond to our requests and demands so that both the parties will honour the agreements they made before the start of this whole saga”, the memorandum stated.
Stating that it will fight for its rights till the end, the memorandum pointed out that “if an anything unfavourable circumstance arises owing to this, the state government will be held responsible”.
