No Sowing, No harvest, says Rio batting for spurring agri activities

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and others during his visit to COVID-19 Hospital Dimapur on April 28. (Morung Photo) 
 

Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 28 

The first lockdown was successful and with the second due to expire on May 3 with partial relaxation particularly in the Green zone, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today called for spurring economic activities.   

However in the light of COVID-19 pandemic, he called for educating the public and following the guidelines of social distancing.

This is time to carry out more awareness not only on the pandemic but also on local importance from the economic point of view, Rio said during a  meeting with the Special Committee COVID-19, Dimapur District Task Force, Deputy Commissioner, Commissioner of Police and the medical department. Among others, his cabinet colleagues and advisors, chief secretary and secretary health and family Welfare, and officials attended the meeting at the Conference Hall of Commissioner  of Police, Dimapur on April  28.

 “We always depend outside the state for our essential needs and this is a time for us to emphasise on self sufficiency especially on agricultural produces,” the CM said. 

“When farmers do not sow there will be no harvest,” he added, stressing that agricultural activities has to continue including lifting of machineries, sowing, harvesting as per directive from the Central Government. 

Though, Nagaland does not have the presence of much factories and industries, shops and construction works need to be regulated for economic activities, he further observed. 

Besides COVID-19, with monsoon was fast approaching, Rio said that roads and other works needs to be activated and enhanced.

The CM also noted that all construction activity materials are transported to Nagaland from other States and from Dimapur these materials and essential commodities including skilled and unskilled workers come via Dimapur.

 In this regard he advised the administration, police leaders, for formulating policy to function best for the convenience and betterment of all, the State DIPR added. 

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary, Temjen Toy also observed that isolation beds needs to be increased stating that more people would be admitted in the isolation wards than COVID hospital. 

He explained that COVID suspects would first be kept in the isolation wards and only after the patient test for COVID positive will be taken in the COVID 19 hospital.

Earlier, Rio on Tuesday visited the designated COVID-19 Hospital in Dimapur during which he launched a total of ten ambulances for government hospitals in various district headquarters.