The Nagaland government is examining a proposal to establish nine police outposts in border villages, Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton informed the House during the Eighth Session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly on Thursday.
Responding to a starred question raised by MLA Achumbemo Kikon regarding the status of the Tchunjanphen and Lio-Longchym/Longayim police outposts, Patton said that a temporary police outpost has already been set up while a proposal for establishing a permanent outpost is under process and will be taken up at the earliest.
He also informed that the proposal to establish a permanent police outpost at Lio-Longchym is currently under examination by the state government.
During supplementary questions, Patton stated that Nagaland had withdrawn all its police outposts following the 1972 interim agreement, whereas Assam has since established 63 permanent police outposts along the Assam–Nagaland border.
In response to another query raised by Kikon regarding electricity supply to Tchunjanphen and neighbouring villages, Minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs KG Kenye said attempts to extend power lines to the area have been stalled as the proposed Right of Way passes through disputed territory, with a larger portion falling under Assam. He added that the department is exploring alternative routes to provide electricity to the villages.
Meanwhile, replying to a separate starred question regarding plantation drives in the Disputed Area Belt (Ralan area), Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change CL John informed the House that no plantation drive has been carried out so far, although the department is considering initiating one in the coming months.
He also stated that the Reserve Forest area in the Disputed Area Belt is currently being patrolled by neutral forces and that the state government has not stationed any personnel there at present.
During the discussion, Minister for PHE and Cooperation Jacob Zhimomi also suggested that the state government write to the concerned ministry to ensure accurate population data and geographical mapping of border villages so that residents are not deprived of government schemes and services.
