Dimapur, August 23 (MExN): The Business Association of Nagas (BAN) has demanded the immediate improvement of roads and power supply in the state.
Bringing to attention the problems faced by businesses and industrial establishments because of the erratic power supply, the BAN in an open letter to the Chief Minister, Power Minister and Nagaland state Power Department, on behalf of the business community stated, “The business community is grappling to run our businesses due to chronic erratic and fluctuating power supply to earn our daily bread for our families.”
Citing a recent report on The Morung Express where it pointed to archaic distribution system and equipments, BAN stated, “The univocal rhetoric of the Power department of Distribution loss and Theft are disgraceful excuses put forth by every successive Govt. and Department over the years for the poor electricity in Nagaland.”
In this regard, BAN posed a few questions before the CM and the Power minister demanding that they publicly answer why MOU with the Center for “24X7 Power for all” was signed. “Was it to fool the Central Govt. to beg for more money?” the association asked.
Insisting that the aggregate of money spend on Power by the state government since statehood will be highest in the country per capita, the association mentioned The Morung Express report and construed that the equipments and distribution system in the state “is fit for antique museum”. “So the question is where has all the money gone?” it asked.
Stating that there has been increase in power tariff over the years, the association demanded to know why there has conversely been an increase in power failure.
Further informing that a Sales Tax department source had mentioned that the revenue from the business community has been increasing “by leap and bound” over the last few years, the association demanded to know where its money is, stating “increase in revenue has not yet converted into developments in terms of Electricity and Roads”.
Further, the existence of several NPGs, it stated has made it “impossible to sustain business.” Citing the recent incident in Kohima when one Naga businessman was assaulted, the BAN lamented that the business community is left to fend for itself despite it contributing to the government its share of taxes. It further asked if the state government “has any moral authority to impose taxation on Business community when it cannot even provide security and basic facility like electricity and roads.”
In this regard, the Business community advised the State Government to stop talking about “hi-fi international things” but go to basics and try to catch up with other North-Eastern states.
“The talk of Nagaland being progressive and developed state and vision 2030 leaves business community red faced as all those rhetoric are to fool the voters/public just on the mere fact that we do not even have a single road or electrified town at par with other north eastern states not to mention international standard,” BAN stated.
“In the event of hundreds and thousands of family running out of business due to bad electricity and road, what consequences and impact it will have on socio-economy of the state?” the association asked.
The BAN further expressed appreciation of Power department field workers, who are giving all their efforts, working overtime for no fault of theirs, and requested them to continue their good work for the society.
