K. Filip Sumi
Dimapur | November 30
Minister for Urban Development, Higher & Technical Education, Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu has underscored the importance of urban areas which he said is crucial to the state’s economic growth as the limited internal revenue of Nagaland was generated mostly from the urban areas.
With such scenario, the Minister called for taking a positive view of the urbanization process. To overcome the primary view of urbanization as a ‘problem,’ Dr. Shurhozelie said it was important to accept it as a welcome phenomenon as urbanization reflected the aspiration of many people to move from villages to cities. “What is needed is not to discourage urbanization but to steer it correctly towards ends that are desirable,” the Minister said during inauguration programme of Housing for Urban Poor at Netaji Colony, Dimapur on Friday.
However, Dr. Shurhozelie noted that the speed of urbanization in the state was “somewhat worrying on account of the huge infrastructure backlog.” Elucidating on it, he said the total population of the state since statehood in 1963 has increased by 5.3 times in terms of absolute number while urban population increased by 18.4 times.
Further, he pointed out that Nagaland recorded the highest rate of urbanization in India during the 2001 and 2011 censuses. While the average rate of urbanization at the national level was about 22 % during 2001, Nagaland recorded 68 %. As against the national average rate of 21 % during 2011, Nagaland recorded 69%.
The Urban Development Minister said that at this rate, the urban population would soon overtake the rural population putting more pressure on the state’s limited infrastructure.
Nagaland, being strategically placed in the framework of the Look East Policy, Dr. Shurhozelie said that the need for development of state-of-the-art infrastructure especially in Kohima and Dimapur assumed greater significance.
He said that the land trade routes under the Look East Policy with the far Eastern countries are being opened for an ever growing trade with India.
For such a growth, the Minister said Dimapur can serve as the nearest rail head (from the Myanmar border) for freighting goods to the rest of the country.
Dr. Shurhozelie said that the government, during the 12th Five Year Plan, is also focusing on the development of foothill towns such as Tizit in Mon, Tuli in Mokokchung, Bhandari in Wokha, Niuland in Dimapur and Jalukie in Peren. He said these towns merited special attention by virtue of their location advantage bordering Assam.
Dr. Shurhhozelie felt that these towns have the potential to grow and develop as commercial centres like Dimapur if planned and developed properly.
However, the Minister pointed out that unavailability of sufficient land in urban areas and land ownership issue has become a bottleneck in the planning process adversely affecting developmental works. He called for active support and cooperation of all stakeholders to engage in serious efforts to facilitate the growth and development of the towns. “We must usher in an era of responsibility if we are to move forward in the progressive path of development,” Dr. Shurhozelie said.
He said Friday’s inauguration of the housing project was a small step towards creating suitable infrastructure to tackle the growing process of urbanization in Nagaland and expressed the hope that bigger strides would be made in the future.
Urban Development Director, Ken Keditsu presented a brief report on the housing project under Integrated Housing & Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) which is a sub-mission of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). Under the project, he said that an amount of Rs 69.47 crore was approved for construction of 2496 dwelling units in Dimapur. Out of this, 240 dwelling units would be at Netaji Colony (SM Colony), 480 at Burma Camp Colony and the rest 1776 is in situ up-gradation.
He said that the project at Netaji Colony (SM Colony) was completed at a cost of Rs 11.40 crore consisting of 10 building blocks each having 24 flats. The housing project having an area of 2.43 acres can accommodate 240 beneficiaries. Ken informed that all the building blocks were Ground + 2 stories with each floor having a plinth area of 231.8 sq.m and 8 dwelling units. The work was awarded to HN Company in October 2007.
Among other dignitaries, the inauguration programme was attended by MLA and former Chief Minister, KL Chishi; Advisor Sericulture and Cooperation, Azheto Zhimomi; NBDA Chairman, L. Temjen and DAN Chairman, Alo Wangham.
