Slams state government for inaction in upgrading Dimapur’s airport and railway station
Dimapur, January 6 (MExN): Former Nagaland Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) Tokheho Yepthomi has urged the State Government to address long-pending issues, including oil exploration and prioritise critical infrastructure projects such as the upgradation of Dimapur Airport and Railway Station and faulted the Government of Nagaland (GoN) over the issues.
In a customary statement issued on the start of a New Year, the MP highlighted that Nagaland is one of the few North-East states rich in mineral deposits. He noted that in 1973, the GoN permitted the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) to conduct surveys and investigations, leading to drilling in areas like Changpang, Hozukhe, Khopanala and Toshezu.
Oil was extracted and refined on a trial basis, and in 1994, Nagaland received Rs 33.83 crore as royalty at a 15% rate, with an additional 3% granted under Article 371A, he informed.
However, he noted that the State could not further the extraction of oil inside Nagaland due to internal differences arising out of Article 371A.
Civil Societies argued that in view of Article 371A, outsiders shall not be allowed to extract oil as land and its resources belonged to its people and the Naga Political groups said that oil shall not be extracted inside Nagaland till “we get independence,” he added.
On the other hand, the Government of Assam continues to develop oil fields along Assam-Nagaland Border, Tokheho stated.
There are four oil refineries in Assam-Digboi, Guwahati Refinery, Bongaigaon and Numaligarh. Initially the capacity of the above four oil refineries was only 5.85 MMT per annum, but has increased to 17.00 MMT per year, he said.
These refineries have been raised as the Assam Government in collaboration with Government of India could develop 39 oil fields to meet their requirements, he added.
It is now 51 years that oil extraction has been operational between Assam and Nagaland boundary and also inside Nagaland State, Tokheho pointed out.
“Taking advantage of our unresolved Naga issue, the Government of Assam has collected considerable revenue from oil royalty,” he maintained.
He further posed if Assam has oil deposits purely within its jurisdiction, why it is not developing oil refineries clearly within its state boundary.
He added, “Why should the Government of Assam only explore and develop oil fields between Assam – Nagaland boundary?
To this end, Tokheho called upon the Nagas to introspect and resolved their past differences in this matter and at the least take an appropriate decision soon on Assam Nagaland Boundary oil fields.
Bats for prioritising Dimapur Airport and Railway Station upgradation
Meanwhile, the former MP said that the Government of India (GoI) has sanctioned ample funds for development of 508 Railway Stations in India to be upgraded to world class stations in 2023.
The Dimapur Railway station is the 2nd highest revenue generating station amongst the North-East states and for its upgradation the GoI has sanctioned Rs 283 crore, he informed.
However, he regretted that the GoN is not “extending any assistance to railway officials to resolve land encroachment issues plaguing and delaying the upgradation process.”
He further asserted that Nagaland can resolve the Airport and Railway land encroachment issue as land permits are issued by the Dimapur District administrative officers.
Thus, Tokheho accused the leader of the day not making any attempts to have the best world-class standard railway Station and wondered whether there is a proposal to shift the railway station to another place.
He further pointed out that all NE States have upgraded their airports with financial assistance from the Centre.
To develop an airport, land has to be provided by the concerned State and the GoN is not in a position to provide land for Airport development and upgradation of the State’s sole airport, he maintained.
Tokheho further claimed that the Dimapur Airport land has been encroached by public with land permits being issued by District Administration with the knowledge of the State Government.
He further asserted that although the land encroachment issue is in the court, the GoN is not “pursuing the matter with zeal to provide land for Airport Development and upgradation.”
To this, he posed, when the State Government spent Rs 18.065 crore to acquire 1013.72 acres of land for Chiethu Airport development, what is holding it back from acquiring and providing land for Dimapur Airport.
To have an Airport in the State Capital is important, but we cannot undermine the importance of upgrading and improving the only Airport in the State which caters to 3.20 lakh passengers annually, growing at 8 percent annually, he added.
Tokheho also countered the arguments of non-feasibility of Dimapur Airport upgradation and expansion stating that its runway is “at par if not longer than Airports in Mizoram, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura.”
Furthermore, the expansion and upgradation of Dimapur Airport are feasible as land is available, but the GoN has been lackadaisical in its approach to pursuing the matter and bringing it to a conclusion. He pointed out that during 2011-2012, Hollohon Colony and Aoyimti Village had agreed to sell the required land for the airport expansion.
The total cost of the land was less than Rs 50 crore, yet the State Government showed no enthusiasm for acquiring it, he added. In this context, he questioned why issues concerning the Dimapur Airport and Railway Station have been neglected for so long, particularly when the State Government is willing to allocate Rs 100 crore for infrastructure upgrades for the 2024 Hornbill Festival and Rs 19.3 crore for the renovation of Dimapur Town Hall.
While acknowledging that the Hornbill Festival serves as a platform to showcase Nagaland's tourism potential, he noted that it lasts only ten days, unlike the airport, which operates year-round. He further emphasised that if the government can invest such staggering amounts in the festival, it should prioritise upgrading critical infrastructure like the airport and railway station, which serve not only tourists but primarily the needs of the Naga people.
