Tourism department to take up objections with government
The Nagaland Tourism Department will take up concerns raised by tribal hohos over the proposed privatisation of Kisama Heritage Village with the state government, following objections at a consultative meeting ahead of the 27th Hornbill Festival on Thursday.
Tourism Secretary Kovi Meyase said the state Cabinet had decided to privatise the entire complex over concerns about its maintenance and long-term sustainability. He said the department would raise the matter with the government after representatives of various tribal hohos expressed concern over the decision, PTI reported.
According to Meyase, some tribal Hohos dislike the idea of privatizing the tribal Morung, adding that it has potential to degrade the customs and traditions. The Tribal Hohos wanted that the modalities are shared with them before a separate consultative meeting is convened for this purpose, The Morung Express reported.
The objections come as the government moves ahead with plans to bring Kisama under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement to develop the heritage village as a year-round tourism destination.
Mokokchung Times reported on August 14 that the government planned to lease Kisama under a PPP model for tourism activities throughout the year, except during the Hornbill Festival.
Tourism Minister Temjen Imna Along had said an open tender would be invited, with first preference given to Nagaland citizens and their societies or firms. The Hornbill Festival itself would remain under the Tourism Department.
On October 13, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said the PPP process was underway and tender documents were being prepared. The tribal hohos raised their concerns nine days later, before the proposed tender process had been finalised.
The concerns have also brought the maintenance of the traditional tribal morungs into focus. At Thursday’s meeting, tribal leaders called for an increase in the annual allocation of Rs 1.5 lakh for the maintenance and facelift of each morung. They pointed out that tribal organisations bore substantial maintenance costs, even though communities operating the structures could generate revenue.
The reports available so far do not specify how the proposed PPP arrangement would affect the management of individual morungs or the responsibilities of the tribal organisations operating them.
Other issues discussed at the meeting included infrastructure and preparations for the festival. Tourism Director Veyielo Doulo said one company of the Indian Reserve Battalion had been deployed at Kisama, with additional security to be arranged during the festival.
Officials also discussed increasing water storage capacity to five lakh litres and ensuring round-the-clock electricity. Doulo said additional morungs could not be constructed without acquiring more land due to space constraints. Ten government departments are currently accommodated at the venue, while others have sought space.
The department proposed limiting food stalls to 15 to improve cleanliness.
The meeting also discussed expanding Hornbill-related events to other districts in phases.
Some participants expressed concern that the Mini Hornbill Festival could overshadow the main event, while officials said it had been renamed the tribal festival.
Meyase said visitor footfall was expected to rise slightly from last year and stressed the need for better coordination among stakeholders.
The Hornbill Festival is held annually from December 1 to 10 at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, around 12 km south of Kohima. (With inputs from PTI)
