Nagaland: Every rupee counts, govt on fuel cess

Nagaland Chief Secretary, Temjen Toy during a press conference in Kohima on April 30. (Morung Photo)

Morung Express News
Kohima | April 30

Following the decision to impose a cess on petrol and diesel to meet the financial exigencies arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Secretary, Temjen Toy today said that every rupee counts, considering the way the economy is going.

Interacting with some media personnel this afternoon at his office chamber, Toy maintained that the state is almost entirely dependent on the Government of India’s funding, which comes in various forms, either through state’s share of tax or the revenue gap grant, at least to cover part of the expenditure and income. 

“These are things that make us survive as a state over and above our own revenue, and the way the economy is going, the devolution of late that has been taking place is way far below what we had budgeted actually” said Toy. 

While states like Assam and Meghalaya had already increased cess on petrol and diesel, he informed that after a discussion, it was felt that the state needs to grab everything whatever comes its way. 

“Now, we don’t really know what our expenditure on health would be, as it has become the thrust area and without money, no government can survive” he further added.

The Chief Secretary also stated that “Covid-19 has taught us many things, and it has shown us how dependent we are on outsiders.”

Observing the people have become too dependent on people from outside to do all the works like stone masonry, carpentry, construction works etc, he said these are works which the people of the state can do, provided that willingness to work.
He added that the agri-sector has huge prospects for production, livelihood and sustenance and thereby, making the state self-reliant in terms of food. Toy however said that the channels must be streamlined and people must be willing to work with a changed mindset to go back to the farm.

He said various value chains must be put in place, in addition to an efficient supply chain and at the same time keeping products at competitive prices.

With regard to the barrage of public criticism towards the government, the Chief Secretary said everyone has a right to criticize and to voice out their rights. 

However, he viewed that “sometimes it goes beyond the line, and these are all manifestations of our immaturity, and that manifests our vulnerability as a people. We have become so vulnerable as a people, we need to mature and grow up.”
“Good things are happening out of COVID-11 and I see the challenges as opportunities” said Toy. He meanwhile pointed out that this virus has taken its toll not only in terms of human lives, but the world economy and that these are the problem that we have to grapple with.

Clarifies on new ambulances
On concerns over new ambulances launched by the Chief Minister on April 28 in Dimapur, Toy affirmed that the vehicles are new. “As long as we are clear in our minds and conscious, we go on regardless,” the Chief Secretary said.

Meghalaya was the first State in the region to have procured the ambulances due to the current pandemic. The Chief Secretary informed that the state got in touch with them as to how they procured theirs wherein it was found that there was a company in Uttar Pradesh. 

He said the company might have procured the vehicles in advance, and kept about 10 ambulances meant for Delhi. Through the contact of one officer from Nagaland, Toy said “we were able to divert them and they were already pre-registered because of the BS-IV and BS-VI norms.”