Tongpang Ozukum lays foundation stones for major projects

Foundation stone laid for Mokokchung District Office Complex

Nagaland PWD (Housing & Mechanical) Minister Tongpang Ozükum, on Monday, laid the foundation stone for the construction of the District Office Complex at wazapanglo area, which is nearly five kilometers from the heart of Mokokchung town (Mokokchung-Yimchalu road).

Speaking at the inauguration, Ozükum said it is a much needed infrastructure in order to accommodate those departments whose offices are currently in rented buildings.

The District Office Complex which started its construction in April 2022 was approved at an estimated cost of INR 23.44 crore and was awarded to M/S Saramati construction. According to Ozukum, the construction is scheduled to be completed by March 2025.

He noted that Mokokchung is now ‘completely saturated’ and that there is no land available in the heart of the town to come up with such a huge project.

Ozükum thanked the Aolepden descendants of the Longkumer clan of Mokokchung village for selling the land to the government at a minimal rate.

Explaining the main reason behind why the PWD Housing department initiated the District Office complex construction, he said, “If all departments construct their own offices, it will cost the government exchequer so dearly”.

Apart from giving financial respite to departments having no office buildings, he believes this will propel expansion of the town which will benefit the town’s residents in many ways in the future.

Noting that the construction may take few years’ time, he however urged the PWD Housing department and also the government to give importance to such initiative, so that all government departments will function from their own offices and henceforth government will not spent time and resources for construction of new departmental office in Mokokchung district.

The building is designed as a G+2 storey building having a plinth area of 4,890 sq mtr which will consist of 143 rooms. The Building is designed to accommodate 10 Departments.

Foundation stone laid for Naga Patient House in Vellore, Chennai

Meanwhile, at the Chief Engineer’s conference hall in Kohima on Monday, Ozükum also laid the foundation stone for the construction of a Naga patient house in Vellore, Chennai.

According to Ozükum, the Naga communities in Chennai, as well as patients visiting Vellore for treatment, have been looking for a decent place to stay for many years claiming that it was a long felt need for the Naga community.

While expressing his gratitude to the Government of Tamil Nadu and officials for making the dream of the Nagas a reality, he mentioned how this issue has been raised to the government on several occasions.

As a result, he said, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio wrote a letter to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to inform him of the situation, realizing the need for such infrastructure. He also stated that the Chief Minister Rio met with Chief Minister Stalin, who responded quickly to the request and allotted a plot of land in Vellore for the construction of the Naga patient house.

The evolution of Naga Patient House

It may be noted here that earlier on February 1, Chief Minister Rio requested a plot of land from his Tamil Nadu counterpart, “understanding the problems and hardship faced by the patients going to Vellore for medical treatment due to a lack of proper accommodation at both Vellore and Chennai.”

Then, on February 14, Minister Tongpang Ozukum and his delegation paid a ‘follow-up’ visit to meet with CM Stalin.

Following this, on August 2, CM Rio sent a ‘thank you’ letter to Stalin for donating 10,000 square feet of land in Arabakkam village, Wallaja taluk, Ranipet district to the Nagaland government for free in order to build a guesthouse for Nagaland residents seeking medical treatment at Christian Medical College campuses in Vellore and Ranipet districts.

Subsequently, on August 25, the District Collector of Ranipet District, Tamil Nadu handed over the land documents to the Nagaland government which was represented by the Executive Engineer PWD (H), Estate Division.
To symbolize the plot’s transfer, five tree saplings, Pungan, Naval, Neermathi, and Eluppai, were planted along the boundary (East Side).

It may be mentioned that the proposed project of the Naga patient home aims to provide accommodation at minimal cost to Naga patients seeking medical treatment at CMC Vellore. The proposed building is designed to have 25 guest rooms, 2 dormitories, multipurpose hall, canteen, dining hall, one office, a quarter for caretaker and other amenities.

Earlier this year, Nagaland Chief Minister Rio promised that construction on the Naga patients’ home in Vellore would begin this year.

Tongpang Ozükum laid the foundation stones of both infrastructures virtually on Monday.

Mokokchung Times