Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 13
Even as Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, cashed on Union S&T Minister Kapil Sibal’s visit to Nagaland October 13, and set a substantial list of please-give-us-these requests, Sibal buried Rio’s list with a heavy ‘gift’ of developmental incentives and support packages in areas ranging from Bamboo development to healthcare, disaster mitigation packages to energy and power. The Union Minister visiting as Chief Guest at the launching of the Nagaland Bamboo Resource Center at 6th Mile Dimapur, announced incentives after incentives sustaining the delighted applause of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and his ministerial colleagues at the inaugural.
Virtually holding the visibly-delighted state government to applause, Sibal’s ‘gifts’ include establishment at the Nagaland University, Kohima, a Bioinformatics Infrastructure Facility (BIF) for the promotion of biology teaching, a regulatory/fiscal regimen for bamboo, gasification of bamboo for electricity, bamboo shoot, up-graded Laboratories for 4 colleges in Nagaland, support to establishment of 50 micro/ mini-hydel (100 Kw) projects in (25 each in 2007 and in 2008) for remote villages in Nagaland, based on indigenously developed technologies (IISc Bangalore). One such project of capacity 2 x 50 kW is in advanced stage (likely to be completed by December 2006) of completion at Thuvopisu village in Phek district of Nagaland. Besides 8 Automatic Weather Stations, 33 iron removal plants and Genetic Counseling Unit in Nagaland; extension of neighbourhood mapping programme to Nagaland. 30 schools will be taken up at one time in Nagaland, in Phase I, covering 5,000 students. Over a period of 15 months, 150 schools will be covered and 25,000 students.
Other doles announced include provision of one mobile diagnostic facility in Nagaland, on the DST/ TIFAC model implemented in Uttaranchal; induction of 150 nano-membrane filters for rural areas to provide clean drinking water in Nagaland. To strengthen science education, DST will take up a programme for upgradation of science laboratories in 4 selected colleges, and re-training of science teachers.
“But none of them will result in prosperity if there is no peace” reminded Sibal sobering the Nagaland Cabinet on the Morung stage. “It is the people of the state who must take upon themselves the task of bringing and maintaining peace, build leadership, dreams and have the commitment to fulfill them; India is with you, to support the growth” Sibal assured. Earlier Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio had appraised the Union Minister of Nagaland’s “poor facility and “unpreparedness” in facing disasters and appealed for aid. “Although Nagaland is not prepared for natural disasters, he (Rio) is well prepared with his list” Sibal jested.
Earlier addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone of the Nagaland Bamboo Resource Centre at Dimapur, he said that the North East may be physically far off from New Delhi but is in the hearts of the people across the country.
