Amid growing public opposition to the proposed Rs 250 crore tourism project linked to Dzükou Valley, Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio on Tuesday clarified that the project is not exclusive to the valley and that no major infrastructure will be constructed in the ecologically sensitive area.
Responding to a question on whether the government would continue with the project despite widespread backlash from the public, Rio said the Rs 250 crore proposal is a single state-level tourism project and not one meant solely for Dzükou Valley.
“Rs 250 crores is one project for one state, where we have to build a centre and tourist destinations. In that program, we will work out for everyone,” Rio said.
The Chief Minister was further asked whether the government would proceed with the project, as many people have opposed turning Dzükou Valley into a tourist destination.
Assuring that public concerns would be addressed, Rio said consultations with the community would be held before any development takes place.
“In any case, we will discuss with the community. There will be no kind of big infrastructure built in Dzükou Valley,” he said.
Clarifying the scope of the project, Rio added that Dzükou Valley would not be the primary focus of the Rs 250 crore allocation.
“The Dzükou Valley development will be different,” he said, adding that the entire Rs 250 crores will not be spent on Dzükou Valley. He said, “The centre will be in the valley; one iconic project will be done in the valley,” and added that the project will branch out to other destinations like Mon, Mokokchung, and to Lower Tizu.
Rio was in Chungtia village in Mokokchung on Wednesday to attend the ongoing 70th AKM general conference.