RS. 300 CR AS SPECIAL PACKAGE FOR EASTERN NAGALAND; CENTRE URGED TO REVIVE TULI PAPER MILL
Centre has agreed to shell out Rs. 2300 crore for Nagaland state’s Annual Plan Outlay for the year 2012-13 of which Rs. 300 crore has been allocated as ‘special development package’ for Eastern Nagaland.

Talking to Nagaland Post, a member of the delegation said besides the plan outlay, the Cabinet has also urged upon Centre to provide Rs. 1200 crore for the revival of Tuli Paper Mill.

He however said that the planning commission was yet to decide on the request. The outlay which was finalized Tuesday here at a meeting between deputy chairman, Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio, indicates a 27% growth as compared to last year’s plan outlay of Rs. 1810 crore.

Meanwhile, Nagaland’s chief secretary Lalthara soon after the meeting in a statement said the planning commission had advised the state government to bring out a special development project for five year period (of the 12th plan) for Eastern Nagaland, for which the planning commission said Rs. 300 crore “should be treated as the first installment”.

At the meeting, Ahluwalia, commenting on the performance of the state said that the human development index (HDI) of Nagaland was “fairly satisfactory” at 0.64% and that “efforts should be more focused on creating revenue generating assets”.

He said the Commission also noticed that despite late start, difficult mountainous terrain, backwardness of the area, significant progress and development has taken place since Statehood.

Satisfactory progress has been made in construction of roads, village connectivity, primary/middle/high/higher secondary schools, and health facilities, he said

Acknowledging that Nagaland had done reasonably well during the 11th Plan, Ahluwalia said the GSDP at constant price from 2007-08 to 2011-12 indicated the growth rate of 10.16% as against the National growth rate of 8.2 per cent.

Agriculture, mining and quarrying: On Agriculture sector he said the growth was tagged at 6.14% while mining and quarrying sector grew at a reasonable rate of 14.53%, achieved due to the change in the State’s policy of legalizing the mining of coal, he added.

Exploitation of Oil resources: On exploitation of oil resources, Ahluwalia said it “is under dialogue with the people and its exploration is expected to yield both financial gain and provide much needed jobs for the State”.

Secondary, manufacturing sector: In the secondary sector, Ahluwalia said construction has grown at 21.26% while the manufacturing sector stood at 4.82%.

Tertiary sector: With growth a of 9.37% in the tertiary sector Ahluwalia said the trade, hotels and restaurants grew at 18.71% indicating that the hospitality sector has shown improved results on accounts of relatively peaceful atmosphere during the period.

Banking and insurance has grown at 9.30% while the real estate and dwelling have grown at 6.83% he said adding, it contributes 19.39% of the total State GSDP.

Rs. 300cr to improve infrastructure of backward region, says Rio
With regard to Rs. 300 crore ‘special development package’ for Eastern Nagaland, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said that Rs. 300 crore would be spent to improve infrastructure of the backward region besides setting up accommodation and offices for the government officials and administrative staff.

12th plan formulated with national approach: Rio
Pointing out that the 12th Plan was formulated in tune with the National approach, chief minister Neiphiu Rio said “planning process has been directed at inclusive economic growth with special emphasis on Agriculture and allied sector, Power, connectivity including Air, Surface and Railway, Human Resources Development including Skill Development, Development of Backward and Under Development Areas and planned Urban centres”, Rio added.

Asserting that the development activities were also directed towards integration of the approaches of the departments from the earlier fractured departmental approaches, Rio said “there is an attempt to clearly outline the priority areas for development and setting of the economic agenda and resource management plan”.

He said the 12th Plan projection for growth is 10%. In view of the encouraging trends during the 11th Plan especially the growth in the secondary sector and the tertiary sector, the State will endeavour to attract investment in economic activities that will generate both higher growth and jobs.

Growth in the mining and quarrying sector projected at 14.53% as the State intends to go in a full way to exploit the mineral resources.

Rio meets PM; Cabinet to decide on prez poll soon
Chief minister Neiphiu Rio accompanied by Lok Sabha MP CM Chang met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at the latter’s 7 Race Course Road residence, Tuesday. Speculations were on the rounds that the meeting could have been on the lines of the Presidential polls slated for July 19.

However, when asked a member of the delegation said that the state cabinet would soon decide only after reaching Nagaland.

ENPO firm on  ‘Frontier Nagaland’
Asserting it has so far rejected all the offers made by state and the Centre including autonomous council, regional council and economic package, Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) Tuesday said it has unanimously resolved to stand firm on its demand for separate statehood—“Frontier Nagaland”.

In a statement, ENPO president P. Pongom and general secretary N.T. Thamlong Phom said the stand was reaffirmed also on June 12 at Tuensang in the presence of all the central executive members, tribal hohos, frontal organizations and senior leaders of ENPO.

The organization reminded that its stand and demand was made “loud and clear” when the chief minister invited ENPO leaders to discuss various offers even on June 22 meeting. ENPO, therefore asked the public not to be “confused by news paper” reports on the issue.