OFFICE OF THE

ALL WARD UNION MOKOKCHUNG TOWN (AWUMT)

MOKOKCHUNG, NAGALAND

OPEN LETTER TO THE CHIEF SECRETARY, GOVT OF NAGALAND, KOHIMA

The All Ward Union Mokokchung Town (AWUMT) is disheartened to learn that the Ministry of Power, Government of India has written to the Government of Nagaland on 20th September 2021 for desanctioning of the North Eastern Power System Improvement Project (NERPSIP) scheme in Mokokchung district, Nagaland which is being executed by the POWERGRID, reason being that the project which was sanctioned in 2018 could not be completed within the stipulated schedule of December, 2021.

We were made to understand that the project could not take off in time due to land issue. Therefore, on 29th April, 2021 the AWUMT met the land owner Mr. K. Asangba Sangtam, former Member of Parliament (MP) and mutually resolved the matter with him in the most amicable manner. Thereafter, on 23rd June, 2021, the AWUMT along with the Chairman, Mokokchung District Planning & Development Board (DPDB), district administration and other officials along with the Chief Engineer, Department of Power, Government of Nagaland and subordinate officers from the Power department jointly visited the site and also had a thorough discussion at the DPDB meeting which was held the same day in the presence of POWERGRID officials.

Subsequently, the matter had been flagged to the Power department, government of Nagaland, to take up the matter with all seriousness, to which the department assured to take up the matter in the State Land Acquisition Authority (SLAA) for purchase of the required land. However, even after the lapse of more than 2 months, the government of Nagaland has not initiated any tangible step to address the land issue and commence the already delayed work. District Land Settlement Board, Mokokchung have also forwarded the matter of acquisition of land to the Commissioner, Government of Nagaland as resolved on 15th July, 2021 to take up the matter in the forthcoming State Land Acquisition Authority (SLAA) for approval.

In the light of the above, the All Ward Union Mokokchung Town wonders why the government of Nagaland is exhibiting very little interest in this NERPSIP scheme in Mokokchung and zero political will for its success. AWUMT also wonder why there is so much hesitation and apprehension on the part of the government when it comes to executing major developmental projects in Mokokchung district.

The AWUMT has done everything we could in our limited capacity and we have nothing much to say now but we leave it to the wisdom of the government of Nagaland to decide on the matter prudently. However, AWUMT declares loud and clear that if this project is desanctioned or face short closure, the government of Nagaland shall be held solely responsible and answerable to the people of Mokokchung for their negligence and stepmotherly treatment. 

Date: September 25, 2021

Yours faithfully,

Sd.                                     

Limanungsang                                                                                                      

President, AWUMT                                                                                              

Sd.

Jongpongtemjen

General Secretary, AWUMT