Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 23
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today said the huge revenue losses in Power sector was mainly due to non-payment of bills and power theft and appealed to the public to develop the culture of paying for what they have used.
In his budget speech on the floor of the House, Rio who also holds finance portfolio, requested all departments to ensure that first priority is accorded to payment of power dues. Power remains an area of concern due to the huge losses being incurred annually due to poor revenue collection, he noted.
During the 13th Finance Commission, the total loss of revenue on account of power was Rs. 963.34 crore and in the 14th Finance Commission, the projected total loss is Rs. 1100 crore. During the year 2017-18 alone, the loss of revenue on account of power was Rs. 309. 97 crore and in 2018-19, it is projected at Rs. 318 crore.
The CM also requested all the citizens of the state to observe ‘Earth Hour’ on March 24 from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm by shutting down non essential lights and electrical appliances in their respective homes for one hour.
Rio meanwhile informed that power sector is witnessing positive improvements in transmission infrastructure because of which power supply in Kohima, Dimapur and Peren districts will become more stable.
Reforms have also been introduced in the billing and collection activities in Kohima, Dimapur, Chumukedima, Phek, Zunheboto, Wokha, Mon and Tuensang towns through online payment systems including facility for payment using POS swipe machines at Kohima and Dimapur.
“During 2018- 19, I propose to provide an amount of Rs. 19 crore for maintenance which is an increase of 35.71 % over 2017-18,” he said.
Rs. 50 crore for repair, maintenance of roads
Rio further announced that an amount of Rs. 50 crore is being provided for repair and maintenance of roads in the state capital Kohima and district headquarters within sixty days.
“We will ensure that the quality of repairs and maintenance is strictly monitored without any compromise, and to the extent possible, all such works will be taken up departmentally,” he said.
The State Quality Control Board which has been created to ensure quality in civil constructions, the CM stated, will be revamped and directed to ensure that there is no compromise in quality and standards. He proposed to reconstitute the Board with members representing serving technocrats, government employees and qualified persons.
“My government will strive to ensure that all districts are connected by good quality two-lane highways,” Rio asserted.
He also stated the government will ensure timely completion of the ongoing National Highway projects taken up by NHIDCL without compromising on quality.
He informed that the government will take steps to improve infrastructure and facilities for the general public who travel on state transport buses, and enhance the fleet of buses.
“We are committed to take definite steps to improve rail and air connectivity for the people of our state, as these two sectors will definitely have significant impact on our economic growth and developmental process,” he added.
Threatens to close down non performing state corporations
Rio also threatened to close down non-performing state corporations and undertakings in the state. “We have many state corporations and undertakings that are almost non-functional,” he regretted in his budget speech today.
He said state corporations and undertakings were initially C-rated to enable them to be profit generating ventures for the state government in the form of equity and dividends as well as to provide employment.
“Despite huge investments by the state government, many corporations have failed to be viable and have instead become huge burdens to the state,” he said.
Even during 2017-18, the CM stated, an amount of Rs. 44.34 crore was spent by way of providing grant-in-aid to meet their establishment costs, mainly for salaries.
Rio proposed to have a serious look into the functioning of these corporations by setting up a special committee, and to close down the non-performing ones by offering a one-time golden handshake to its employees.
Nagaland coffee reaches South Africa
The Chief Minister informed that after the State’s Land Resource Department tied up with Nobel Cause Company of South Africa for partnership in marketing for the next 30 years, coffee plantation in the state has received a big boost. He informed that the first export of seven metric tonnes has already reached Cape Town.
Touching on agri and allied sector, Rio said the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government will continue to focus on achieving food security through adoption of modern technology and integrated approach to farming and putting in place critical infrastructure for transportation, storage and processing of products.
He also announced that the government will bring about commercial scales of production in the agri and allied sectors.
To formulate new tourism policy
An announcement was made by the CM to formulate new tourism policy to promote innovation and creativity that “reflects the energy of youths, the colours and vibrancy of culture and the richness of heritage.”
He also proposed to promote tribal festivals into 2 to 3 days by organizing Mini Hornbill Festivals in various districts. Such approach will enable the tourists to visit the state throughout the year, Rio said. In December, the series of Mini Hornbill Festivals will culminate with the main Hornbill Festival, he added.
An amount of Rs. 2 crore will be kept aside for capacity building exercises for the tourism and tourism related industry and conduct of tourism centric seminars, training of tour operators, promotions, writers meet etc, it was informed.
Entry of tourists into Nagaland will be made smoother with online ILP system for tourists, the CM said. He assured that tourist circuits and facilities will be promoted and marketed using internet enabled tools.
Rio further maintained that the aim is to make Hornbill Festival one of the premier cultural tourism festivals in South East Asia.
PDA govt to transform, elevate lives of rural people
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio meanwhile said the foremost priority of PDA government in the rural development sector will be to transform and elevate the lives of all rural people with gainful employment.
“Rural employment will further be supplemented through skill development and rural livelihoods programme by having convergence with schemes that promote arts and crafts as also animal husbandry, poultry and piggery,” he said.
The CM stated online marketing of handloom and handicraft products will help augment the income of rural households.
In order to prevent leakages and ensure proper targeting of benefits, instructions will be issued to all departments to link all beneficiaries of government schemes including pensions to Aadhaar and biometric systems, Rio added.
Maintaining that unless the departments concerned make concerted efforts, deserving beneficiaries will be denied their dues, he also requested the banking fraternity in the state to set up bank branches in the unbanked blocks allotted to them.
Nagaland Investment & Development Authority
Rio further proposed setting up Nagaland Investment & Development Authority to attract investments from private sector and multilateral agencies in Nagaland. He said it will aggressively pursue investment projects, infrastructure development and take up measures that contribute towards economic growth in a substantial manner that is acquainted and adaptable to our situation. The details of the institution and its structures will be announced soon, he added.
Clean and Green Nagaland to be launched
A new initiative to promote a cleaner and more hygienic Nagaland will be introduced as part of the Swachh Bharat initiative, it was also announced. “Clean and Green Nagaland will be launched so that we spread the message to keep our environment and habitation clean,” Rio said. He also announced that the state will formulate an anti-plastic policy in a practical and realistic manner, adding it will also target open defecation free villages and award those villages and colonies that achieve the targets and set new standards.
Fostering Climate Resilient Upland Farming System project
The Chief Minister also informed that the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) has approved a project named ‘Fostering Climate Resilient Upland Farming Systems’ in Nagaland amounting to Rs. 612.41 crore for duration of six years from April 1, 2018 till March 2024. The project aims to improve the present agriculture system, promote permanent settled agriculture, create an organic marketing value chain and undertake forest conservation.
In forest sector, he said the Nagaland Forest Management Project (NFMP) has been approved for funding by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The project is estimated at Rs. 533 crore and will be implemented in 185 villages of 22 selected forest ranges in 11 forest divisions covering all the districts of the state.
The project will seek to improve forest ecosystems and support income generation by rehabilitation of jhum areas and provision of livelihood support, thereby contributing to sustainable forest and environmental conservation and livelihood improvement in the targeted villages.
The department is also in the process of finalizing negotiations for a ‘Biodiversity and Community Conserved Area Management’ project, the CM said, adding the project will be funded under the Indo-German Financial Cooperation project and will cover 70 villages in six districts over a period of 7 years starting from 2018-19.
