Landholding system in Nagaland holding up development plans

The landholding system in Nagaland is the biggest hurdle in taking up development projects, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said today.
"In Nagaland the biggest hurdle in taking up development activities is the landownership issue," Rio said, citing that four laning of the Dimapur-Kohima national highway and Kohima railway line have not been successful because of the problem of landownership.
Stating that any form of development required approval of land owners, he said, "I feel that at the district level, officials, leaders and administrators should know the ground situation and come together to resolve the matter."
On the government's vision to have a Special Economic Zone, he said, without industrial and work culture and industries no progress could be made.

"For us (Nagas) we want industries, we want employment but we do not open our doors," he regretted and said the government wanted to meet tribal hohos to set up a SEZ particularly in the foothills.
He suggested that it should be without Inner Line Permit for outsiders, but regulated in the hills.

"In the foothills where there can be commercial hubs, townships ... It should be allowed or else no investor will come and there will be hurdles," he said.
It should also be tax free for at least 10 years as incentive, he said.
He said the government wanted no objection from tribal hohos of districts and areas.

Rio said that the state government was setting up committees on how to go about the plan.
The government could acquire some land, while individuals and community could sell land to interested parties, he said, and only then industries and entrepreneurship would come which would provide employment.
He was addressing a special Kohima District Planning and Development Board meeting-cum-felicitation programme for the seven elected representatives of Kohima district.