The Advisor for Water Resources, Tongpang Ozukum, inaugurated a new Public Works Department (PWD) rest house in Phangsang town on Thursday, October 31. The facility features four rooms, a kitchen, and a dining/reception hall, with a project cost totalling Rs 54 lakh, according to Er. Nungsang Jamir, Executive Engineer, PWD (Housing), Mokokchung. The land for the building was donated by Imkongsadang.
The Advisor shared that the rest house was initially planned for Amguri. However, land issues led to its rejection there, despite Rs 8-9 lakh already being spent. “Following the fallout in Amguri, I took the matter to the Chief Minister, who approved the relocation to Phangsang. We are grateful to the CM for facilitating a government guest house in this location,” Ozukum said.
Sangpangchang Longkumer, Extra Assistant Commissioner (EAC) of Ongpangkong, described the inauguration as “historic,” noting that it brought government infrastructure to the grassroots level. “Now that the infrastructure has been provided by the government, it is up to the community to utilize it effectively,” he added.
When asked about the significance of this project, the Advisor noted, “As a representative, it is my duty to bring development not only to Phangsang but to every village in my constituency.”
The Advisor hoped that the rest house would benefit traveling officers and teachers from Pangshang High School, stating, “I have personally experienced the difficulties of finding accommodations in remote areas. This prompted me to initiate this project.”
The Advisor also underlined the importance of increasing the population in Phangsang town, linking it to the need for higher student enrolment in the local Government High School. “We must work hard to increase the number of students in our Government High School. I was told there are only two students in Class 10, which is concerning. I hope we can all work together to change this,” he said.
He further informed that the Advisor of School Education plans to meet with civil society organizations (CSOs) in Mokokchung District to address issues such as “too many schools and too few students.” He urged the community to support efforts to prevent downgrading the school to middle school, adding, “It would be a collective failure if we allow this to happen owing to low student enrolment.”
The Advisor also provided updates on the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-III), noting that several villages in his constituency had provided NOCs (No Objection Certificates) for the project. He clarified that the PMGSY-III guidelines do not cover land and damage compensation and encouraged villages to donate land for improved connectivity.
Given Phangsang’s strategic location, with six neighboring villages nearby, when asked about potential plans to establish Phangsang as a tourism circuit, the advisor acknowledged the challenges in declaring a village a tourist destination but stressed that infrastructure such as accommodation is essential for attracting visitors. “The landscape and topography are very good, and with better communication and more development, I believe we will attract more tourists,” he said.