Chizokho Vero
Kohima | March 20
The State government has placed high hopes on the “Look East Policy” of the Central government, believing that it can turn the State into a gateway between India and the emerging economy of the Association of South East Asian Nation (ASEAN) countries, thereby removing the sense of isolation so far felt by the people of the region, and also converting the hitherto locational handicap into an advantage.
“The construction of the much awaited East-West corridor highway up to, and along the eastern border with Myanmar, would serve not only as the trade route with the ASEAN countries, but as a highway for patrolling the sensitive international boundary to check and control drug trafficking and smuggling of arms and other contraband items,” said Nagaland Governor K. Sankaranarayanan in his address at the State Assembly Session today.
Further, the government is taking up with the Government of India the setting up of one “Special Economic Zone” along with a “Software Technology Park around Dimapur, as part of the new “Look East Policy,” the Governor said.
It is estimated there are about 11 million tonnes of proven coal reserves in the state, Sankaranayanan said adding “with the adoption of the Nagaland Coal Policy 2006 and the Nagaland Coal Mining Rules 2006, the state government has granted one Coal Mining Lease to Tiru Coal Project (Joint venture) and 8 Coal Prospecting Licences (CPL) to other private parties.”
The Governor also stated that the government was contemplating to create some offices at the district level with the required technical manpower for the successful implementation of the Nagaland Coal Mining Policy and Rules, 2006 as well as for proper development and control of the mineral resources of the state.
The Governor said that air connectivity has to improve in the state to keep pace with requirements particularly of business and entrepreneurs.
A Techno Feasibility Study for a green-field airport at Chiethu (Kohima) is expected to be completed soon and the project is expected to be taken up in the Eleventh Five Year Plan, it was informed.
The existing Dimapur airport is shortly to be modernized as it has been identified amongst the 35 non- metro airports for expeditious upgradation, he said.
The Governor added that a helicopter service in the state will be introduced in the state shortly. Private airlines are also to set foot in Dimapur, he said adding that Air Deccan is scheduled to start its operations to Dimapur from March 26 this year.
