The story so far…
A Khelo India-funded multipurpose hall officially identified as the “Multi Purpose Hall, Mangkolemba” has come under scrutiny over its location, with the Mangkolemba Ao Lanur Telongjem (MALT) saying it was “unable to identify or locate” the multipurpose hall within Mangkolemba town as described in the work order. The government, however, has maintained that the project was executed at an approved geo-tagged site in Longtho village under the Mangkolemba circle.
At the centre of the dispute is the location and documentation of the project, which was awarded to Aren Enterprises through a July 2024 work order issued by the Chief Engineer, PWD (Housing), Nagaland, and was virtually inaugurated by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on July 3, 2026.
The Mangkolemba Ao Lanur Telongjem (MALT) first raised the issue through a notice to Aren Enterprises dated July 22, 2026, saying it had been unable to identify or locate the “Multipurpose Hall at Mangkolemba” within Mangkolemba town.
MALT said the situation had generated public concern and questions over the whereabouts of a project officially described as having been constructed at Mangkolemba.
The organisation asked Aren Enterprises to clarify the project’s status, physically indicate its exact location and explain how and where it had been executed in relation to the approved project documents and work order.
It also sought the approved site plan, completion records, handing-over documents, geo-tagged photographs and other records establishing the execution and location of the project.
Aren Enterprises was given 15 days, from July 22 to August 5, to appear before MALT and furnish the requested clarification and records.
However, according to the Civil Society Organization (CSO) Mangkolemba, the firm failed to appear or respond within the stipulated period.
Following this, the CSO wrote to the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mangkolemba, on August 10, asking the administration to take up the matter with the concerned authorities and the firm. It also gave Aren Enterprises a final three-day period, from August 11 to 13, to appear before the CSO and furnish the required clarification and records.
Meanwhile, on August 11, the government issued a clarification.
In a letter to the ADC, Mangkolemba, Directorate of Youth Resources and Sports Director Kethosituo Sekhose said the July 2024 work order mentioned “Mangkolemba” along with the designated coordinates 26°29’45.10″N and 94°22’13.53″E, which he said fall in Longtho village under the Mangkolemba circle.
According to the Directorate, the same coordinates were incorporated into the Detailed Project Report approved by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and the project was implemented at the designated geographical location.
The department said a Land Availability Certificate had been issued by the ADC’s office following spot verification in coordination with the concerned Village Council, while an NOC had also been issued certifying that the land was free from encumbrances.
The Directorate further said that a Project Monitoring Committee comprising State government officials and a representative of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports/SAI undertook verification and submitted a report on December 9, 2025, certifying 100 per cent completion of the project.
It said the nomenclature “Multi Purpose Hall, Mangkolemba” was approved by the Ministry and had therefore remained the official name of the project.
The Directorate, however, clarified that the location had not been described as Mangkolemba ADC headquarters or Mangkolemba town.
The explanation places the project within the Mangkolemba administrative area while identifying Longtho as its physical location.
The matter also drew the intervention of Tourism and Higher Education Minister Temjen Imna Along, who called for a consultative meeting in regard to the multipurpose hall on August 11 and requested the ADC, Mangkolemba, to initiate and notify the relevant stakeholders to deliberate on the matter.
The CSO, however, declined to participate in the proposed meeting.
It may be mentioned that Mangkolemba falls under the 29 Jangpetkong Assembly Constituency, while Longtho falls under the 30 Alongtaki Assembly Constituency.
In its letter to the ADC, the CSO said it had already taken up the matter through the appropriate channel and maintained that the issue should first proceed through the established process, including the appearance of the concerned firm and furnishing of the required clarification and records.
The CSO said it appreciated the minister’s concern and intervention but maintained that further consultation should follow the formal process already initiated.
MT had also sought clarification from the government regarding the project and its location and was asked to wait until August 11 for an official response. The official response was shared on August 11.
The differing positions have now placed the location and execution of the project at the centre of the dispute.
According to the government, the hall was constructed at the approved geo-tagged location in Longtho and that the project underwent land verification and subsequent monitoring, resulting in a 100 per cent completion certification.
MALT and the CSO, however, are seeking a direct response from the executing firm and documentary records establishing the exact location and execution of the project.
Thus, the issue is not merely whether the structure was completed, but how its location was represented in the official project nomenclature and documentation, and whether the executing firm can substantiate the government’s account through the records sought by the local civil society organisations.
Until the concerned firm furnishes its response and the relevant records are placed on record, the dispute over the Mangkolemba multipurpose hall remains unresolved.
