NLA passes six bills; Fifth session of 14th NLA adjourned sine die

The six bills introduced in the House on the first day of the fifth session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly were passed on 29th August 2024.

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio moved the following bills:

The Nagaland Goods and Services Tax (Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024; the Nagaland Work-Charged and Casual Employees Regulation (First Amendment) Bill, 2024; the Nagaland Municipal (Amendment) Bill, 2024; and the Disqualification on Grounds of Defection in Urban Local Bodies Bill, 2024. Deputy Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang moved the Nagaland Road Safety Authority (Second Amendment) Bill, 2024, while the Global Open University Nagaland (Second Amendment) Bill, 2024 was moved by Minister of Higher Education Temjen Imna Along. The House unanimously passed all the bills.

Nagaland assembly debates ceasefire impact on law and order
MLA Kuzholuzo Nienu, while addressing the matter of urgent public importance related to the ‘Ceasefire and Law and Order situation in the State,’ highlighted that the state’s Home Department should implement a comprehensive transfer and posting policy. He pointed out that many security personnel are currently stationed in their respective hometowns and urged the Home Department to consider this issue seriously, ensuring that personnel from each district are fairly distributed across all districts in the state. He made this statement during the second day of the fifth session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly on 29th August 2024.

MLA Kuzholuzo Nienu also remarked that while the Ceasefire Agreement was signed to bring peace to the state, it has become counterproductive, as more factions have emerged under its umbrella. He noted an increase in kidnappings, ransoms, extortions, killings, and assaults, questioning whether the state still needs the Ceasefire Agreement with the Centre. He stressed that if the agreement is to continue, its ground rules must be reviewed and enforced immediately.

Deputy Chief Minister Y. Patton also highlighted the extension of the Ceasefire Agreement with the Government of India and five out of the 26 factions for a period of one year. He informed that the Ceasefire Agreement is reviewed every year to ensure compliance with the ground rules. Additionally, he mentioned that there are 15 designated camps belonging to different faction groups in the state and listed the names of the districts declared as Disturbed Areas.

Patton updates on measures against illegal immigration from Bangladesh
During the Zero Hour, Deputy Chief Minister & Minister-in-charge of Home, Y. Patton, responded to a question raised by Achumbemo Kikon regarding the steps taken by the government and police to prevent the influx of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Patton stated that the Government of Nagaland and the Police Department are closely monitoring the situation in Bangladesh. He informed the House that intelligence teams have been activated and are maintaining round-the-clock vigilance to address any potential illegal immigration from Bangladesh through Assam.

He further informed the House that a committee, including the Administration, Police, Army, and other stakeholders, has been formed to monitor the situation. He added that the Administration and Police have already implemented strict vigilance by setting up check posts on the 13 interstate routes and closely monitoring border villages and vulnerable locations in all eight districts that share borders with Assam.
The Home Minister also assured the citizens of Nagaland that the government is making every effort to prevent any influx of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh into Nagaland through Assam and that the government and its agencies are well-prepared to deal with any such situation.

In response to the matter, Deputy Chief Minister Y. Patton stated that there is currently no policy for the transfer and posting of personnel within the Home Department. He urged the members of the Assembly not to intervene in the transfer and posting of jawans. He also informed the House that the Law and Order mechanism in the state is active, with regular arrests being made in cases of extortion, kidnapping, violations of the Arms Act, and violations of the NLTP Act, as well as drug-related cases across the state.

Nagaland assembly discusses delays In Dimapur-Kohima four-lane road project
On the second day of the Fifth Session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly on 29 August 2024, MLA Achumbemo Kikon raised a starred question regarding the completion timeline for the four-lane road from Dimapur to Kohima and the reasons for the delay in the project. In response, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister in-charge of PWD (National Highways), TR Zeliang, informed that PKG I of the said road is likely to be completed by 31 December 2024, while PKG II was completed on 10 June 2023. PKG III, related to road works, is scheduled to be completed by 28 September 2025. He further stated that issues such as heavy rainfall accompanied by landslides and rockslides, the Covid-19 pandemic, termination of contractors, improper planning, and inadequate manpower were the main causes for the delay in completing the project.

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio supplemented the response by citing several critical issues, including the incompetence of NHIDCL and their lackadaisical efforts towards the timely completion of the project.

MLA Nuklutoshi, in his starred question regarding the guidelines contractors must follow for National Highway works, inquired whether the PWD (National Highways) has established any guidelines for contractors related to the expansion of national highways, specifically concerning public awareness, general safety, and ensuring the smooth movement of vehicles while work is ongoing. He also asked if these guidelines apply to work orders issued before the guidelines were established. In response, Deputy Chief Minister TR Zeliang confirmed that such guidelines do exist and are applicable to all contractors, regardless of whether their contracts were signed before or after the guidelines were amended.

‘No illegal immigration from Bangladesh following crisis’
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister in charge of Home, Y. Patton, stated that there have been no reports of an influx of illegal Bangladeshi migrants into Nagaland following the recent crisis in Bangladesh. He made this statement during the Zero Hour today on the topic “Influx of Illegal Immigrants in the State – Aftermath of the Bangladesh Crisis.” Patton noted that the State Government, led by the District Administration and Police, is actively monitoring the situation. He informed the House that under the District Level Security Coordination Committee, adequate measures have been initiated in each district to monitor and report the presence of any illegal migrants from Bangladesh.

Land dispute in Niuland delays completion of capital bypass road, says TR Zeliang
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister in charge of National Highways, TR Zeliang, today said that the land dispute in Niuland has delayed the completion of the Capital Bypass road via Zhadima. Replying to a supplementary question during the Assembly Session, he explained that the concept of including the Niuland and Zhadima road under the Interstate connectivity of PWD (Roads and Bridges) was to ease the hardship of commuters traveling between Dimapur and Kohima, particularly during the monsoon season. He noted that the project did not include provisions for any compensation, and the landowners had submitted an NOC agreeing not to claim land compensation. However, landowners from three villages in Niuland district have since claimed land compensation, damage compensation, and forest compensation, which has led to delays in resolving the matter.

35 arrested in Nagaland Police crackdown on extortion
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister in charge of Home, Y. Patton, said the Nagaland police are leaving no stone unturned in maintaining law and order in the state. Making a statement on “Ceasefire and Law and Order Situation in the State” on the last day of the ongoing session of the Nagaland Assembly today, Patton informed that 32 extortion cases have been registered and 35 persons have been arrested. He said that, of the 35 arrested for extortion, eight were from NNC (FGN), seven from NSCN (IM), seven from NSCN-K (Khango), and four from NSCN-K (Nikki), while the rest belonged to other factions. Patton also informed that the number of persons from different factions arrested between January and August 2024 by the police and security forces combined stood at 106.

Road to Sungkha Village 66.93% complete despite landslide challenges, Minister Kaito assures timely finish
On the second and final day of the Fifth Session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly on 29th August 2024, Minister of PWD (R&B) G. Kaito Aye, in response to a starred question raised by MLA Achumbemo Kikon regarding the construction of the road from L/025 to Sungkha Village under Bandhari Sub-division, Wokha, stated that 66.93% of the work has been completed to date.

Kaito also informed the House that the delay in completing the work was due to a major landslide at the 19th km and the inability to transport machinery and equipment required for FDR and blacktopping works beyond the affected area. The Minister further mentioned that a total of Rs. 1,314.40 lakhs has been paid to the contractor to date and assured that the Department is in close coordination with the contractor concerned, with efforts accelerated to complete the works during this financial year.