Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 15
There’s more than meets the eye to the controversy surrounding the shifting of Peren district headquarters from present Peren town to the new site, some 11 km from Jalukie town.
The decision taken during the last Peren District Planning & Development Board (DPDB) meeting held on August 22 to immediately commence shifting to the new site has in fact stirred a hornet’s nest compelling even the Gauhati High Court to give its opinion based on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL).
Besides the visible lack of infrastructural development in the new district headquarters site, the issue of land compensation and land disputes between villages have also come in the way of smooth shifting.
Except for six buildings including the DC office complex that have been completed and half a dozen other buildings (offices and staff quarters) under construction, the much touted “model district headquarters” is completely desolate and devoid of human settlement.
“It’s now six years after the state Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of the new district headquarters in 2007 and construction of only six buildings have been completed.
At this rate (a building every year), the new model headquarters will never see the light of day”, a public leader of Peren town told visiting media persons on Saturday.
The public leader also informed that there are no private buildings or human settlement as the government has not issued land allotment so far.
Members of Peren Students’ Union who were also present at the new site questioned as to how 30-odd government departments and approximate 515 employees can function in the six buildings.
“Our dream model township is in a mess. Both approach roads from Jalukie and Peren town to the new site are incomplete contrary to claims. Presently, only the DC office complex has been provided with electricity and water supply connection. With no market, bank, school, church, dispensary and transportation mode, how can the government force its employees and Peren district citizens to occupy the new site without first putting in place basic amenities and infrastructure”, a student leader said.
Elders of the area also pointed out that the new DC office complex sits on “uncompensated land” (or disputed site). The Old Jalukie Village Council (OJVC) and Jalukie Pumling Nko have in a representation to DC Peren dated Sept. 5, 2012, also raised objection to shifting of offices to the new site pending resolution of a case in the high court. The representation reminded of a writ petition filed by OJVC in 2010 is still pending in the Kohima bench high court. Earlier, OJVC in 2009 had raised objection against the proposed land acquisition by the state government in particular, the schedule “North: Kejanglwa village areas.” OJVC claimed that some areas in the schedule (including the site of the DC office complex) belonged to OJVC.
There also allegations of disparity/non-payment with regard to land compensation as per the MoU between the state government and three villages –Peren, New Peren and Kejanglwa.
It may be mentioned Zeliang People Organization (ZPO) had on September 7, 2012 filed a PIL in the Gauhati High Court questioning the government’s decision to shift government offices and establishments of Peren district to the new site without “creating requisite infrastructure and road connectivity.” The Court in its judgement delivered the same day disposed of the “petition by directing the chief secretary to the government of Nagaland to visit the new site and ensure that before shifting of the district headquarters minimum infrastructure is available to his satisfaction. Till such infrastructure becomes available to the satisfaction of chief secretary, shifting of headquarters may not be implemented.”
DC Peren Senti Ao in a letter to State Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner dated September 5, 2012, cited some points of objection raised by Peren Village and ZPO on several occasions including “with the forthcoming elections, the lack of infrastructure like (landline connection, proper roads, no strongroom etc) would pose to be major challenges.”
The DC in his letter requested the Commissioner to “kindly take up the matter with appropriate authority in order to postpone the shifting till such time that basic infrastructure is ready.”
“As the primary objective of our office as a public office is to be able to serve and be readily available to the public”, the DC added.
All eyes are now on the impending visit of the chief secretary to the new site and his observations.
