Nagaland urged to Fast-track Development Projects under PM-DevINE, MDoNER

KOHIMA, October 22: The Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region (MDoNER) has urged Nagaland to expedite the implementation of development projects, prioritise projects for the 16th Finance Commission and strengthen project monitoring to ensure timely completion.

The matter was discussed at a review meeting held in the office chamber of Nagaland Development Commissioner on October 21, attended by Dr. Vipul Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, MDoNER; Y. Kikheto Sema, IAS, Principal Secretary and Development Commissioner, Nagaland; and representatives of concerned line departments.

Dr. Aggarwal, on his second visit to Nagaland, thanked the State Government for providing updates and sought clarifications on key projects, including a 50-bedded hospital at the new District Headquarters in Peren, a multispeciality hospital at Chumoukedima, and indoor and outdoor stadium facilities at Peren Government College.

He stressed the urgency of submitting priority proposals under the 16th Finance Commission by the end of October, advising departments not to wait for final allocation figures. He also stated that liabilities under the 14th and 15th Finance Commissions would not be carried forward to the 17th Finance Commission.

Emphasising timely implementation, Aggarwal called for clear roadmaps for project completion, with priority given to older projects and those that could be completed by the next financial year. He urged departments to accelerate work, shorten project timelines wherever possible and respond promptly to queries and requests for clarification.

He said major projects under the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) should be closely monitored and prioritised for early completion. He also called for objective, need-based proposals and targeted interventions to address critical gaps in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) performance.

While stating that funding support was available for deserving projects, Aggarwal emphasised that effective implementation and timely completion were essential. He acknowledged the progress made by other Northeastern states and said Nagaland needed to intensify its efforts to improve socioeconomic development and deliver projects effectively.

Addressing the meeting, Kikheto Sema expressed gratitude to the Government of India and MDoNER for extending financial assistance to Nagaland since the Ministry’s establishment in 1998. However, he said the assistance received had not been commensurate with the State’s developmental needs.

According to Sema, Nagaland received a total of ₹5,339.50 crore under MDoNER between 1998 and 2025, comparatively less than several other Northeastern states. He described Nagaland as the region’s third-lowest recipient of MDoNER funding and sought greater financial support to address its development requirements.

He said Nagaland was looking forward to an era of peace, progress and development, stressing the need to accelerate investment in healthcare, road connectivity, education and essential infrastructure.

With government employment opportunities nearing saturation, Sema said the State Government was exploring alternative avenues for sustainable livelihoods, particularly for young people. He highlighted the potential of commercial and plantation crops such as coffee, tea, rubber and agarwood, along with eco-tourism, to encourage entrepreneurship, generate income and support sustainable economic growth.

On project implementation, Sema informed the meeting that Nagaland had 71 ongoing MDoNER-funded projects. While several had been completed, others had faced delays due to land-related issues, natural calamities and contractor-related problems. He said the State Government was working to resolve these challenges, including taking up matters requiring intervention at the Chief Minister’s level.

He urged MDoNER to take a considerate view of implementation delays, citing Nagaland’s distinctive landholding system and other local challenges. He also requested the Ministry to reconsider the issue of refunds of previously allocated funds in this context, arguing that the State’s peaceful situation should be treated as an opportunity to accelerate development.

Highlighting disparities in SDG performance between Nagaland and other states, as well as among districts within Nagaland, Sema said the Government would prioritise sectors and districts facing critical developmental gaps. Road connectivity, healthcare, education and other essential services would be addressed according to identified needs.

He also referred to instances in which the Centre had agreed to provide additional funding beyond the State’s normal allocation, but the amounts were subsequently adjusted within the existing allocation. He urged the Ministry to maintain clarity and consistency in its funding commitments.

Sema assured the meeting that coordination meetings would be held with all concerned departments to review project progress, resolve implementation issues and ensure timely completion. Representatives of the line departments presented updates on their respective projects, followed by discussions on progress, challenges and measures to expedite implementation.

As part of his visit, Aggarwal, accompanied by a team from the concerned line departments, is scheduled to inspect project sites on October 22.

The proposed visits include the Kohima Multidisciplinary Sports Centre at the IG Stadium Complex under PM-DevINE; educational infrastructure and facility development at polytechnics across Nagaland, also under PM-DevINE; a 220/132 kV (2×100 MVA) and 132/33 kV (2×50 MVA) substation at Tsitrongse, Dimapur, along with associated transmission lines; and the upgradation of the Radiation Oncology Centre at the Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research (CIHSR), Dimapur, under PM-DevINE. (Molungnenla, IA)