Dimapur April 27 (MExN): The Zeliangrong Baudi (Hoho) reacting to the news item ‘State Cabinet selects New Peren as HQ’ April 27 issue of The Morung Express, has expressed surprise at the reported decision selecting New Peren as the new district headquarter for Peren, since the Baudi has not yet received any notification from the government on a final decision from the Cabinet.
A press statement from the Baudi issued by Kedi Haralu, Press Secretary stated that “leaking” out any information at such a crucial juncture can be detrimental for it gives people with vested interests to hamper any decision before any notification is out. The Baudi also refuted any land disputes as reported in the news item maintaining that there are no such problems.
“For the Baudi had made it very clear in the MoU signed earlier between the three Peren villages and the government that land compensation would be as per government rate and that there will be no concessions where allotment of work or vacancies is concerned” the Baudi asserted reiterating that there is no land dispute between Jalukie and Peren.
The Baudi also said that it had selected New Hegeililo-Tebam New Peren-Kezanglwa as its first preference since, when the consensus was sent out to all the villages under Peren District, 64 villages, a majority, favored the site. “But unfortunately, due to misunderstanding amongst themselves, Peren landowners could not come up with a concrete decision. Since two and half years have passed with all the haggling, the Baudi had given Peren villagers a seven-days notice to settle their disputes and come up with a concrete decision, which was unfortunately ignored by the villagers. Thus the Baudi finally decided to recommend Jalukie as the site for the HQ with prior permission and approval of the landowners” the Baudi said.
However, due to “sudden change of heart” by Peren villagers, the Commissioner had added a final clause in his report that the first option of the Baudi was still an open option, the statement said.
For this reasons, it was kept from the purview of the public since there are still many with vested interests wanting to sabotage the decision. The Baudi however affirmed that the mandate of the general public is final and whatever decision the Cabinet takes. It also requested that no further confusion be created since it was still premature at this juncture and the Baudi would be the one to settle any dispute.
Meanwhile, a senior cabinet minister, declining to be identified on grounds that it was sensitive, confirmed over telephone (late evening April 27 at the time of filing this report) that the Cabinet has taken the decision in principle. “The cabinet has decided in principle for New Peren as headquarter. Notifications will take time.
A committee to pursue the formulation of decision will have to be set up first also” the Minister said. He also said that a MoU will be signed with concern Peren landowners. “Although there were other proposals, the cabinet after assessing the situation felt that New Peren was better and took the decision in principle” the Minister said without elaborating further adding that notifications have yet to be sent out officially.
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