Rs 189 crore sanctioned for Medical College in Nagaland: P Longon
Source: Oken Jeet Sandham / NEPS *

Kohima, March 19 2015: Minister for Health and Family Welfare P Longon informed the House that Rs 189 crore had already been sanctioned by the Government of India for the construction of the Medical College in Nagaland and for which 135.90 acres of land belonging to P Khel of Kohima Village had been acquired.

He, however, said the Government of India had not yet released any fund towards this.

Replying to supplementary question raised by CLP leader Tokheho Yepthomi during the question house on last day of the 8th Session of the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly Thursday, the Minister said the total cost of land compensation was Rs 16.30 crore.

When Yepthomi wanted to know whether the Government of India was helping with regard to the payment of land compensation, the Minister told him that they could not pay the "land compensation" to the land owners.

"We are trying our best to pay the compensation to the land owners," he said.

P Longon, Minister for Health & Family Welfare

Towards this, former Medical Minister and NPF (N) MLA Imkong L Imchen said the Government of India was kind enough for granting the Medical College to Nagaland.

He, however, informed the House that the land compensation should be borne by the respective state government.

He further cautioned that unless land compensation was paid, college functioning or other activities of the college would not take off, though there were agreements between the Government and the land owners.

Imchen also suggested that making payment as early as possible for the land acquired would be better.

Otherwise later, there could be escalation of payments for the land compensation.

"Once the land compensation is paid, construction works for the Medical College can be started at war footing," he stated.

Appreciating the concerns expressed by the Members, chief minister TR Zeliang informed the House that the Cabinet had discussed the matter twice.

Although foundation stone for the Medical College was already laid at Kohima last year, MoU between the government and the land owners was not yet signed because of the certain conditions came up from the land owners' side.

He, however, informed the House that a Draft MoU was already sent to Law Department for vetting.

Once the vetting was done, the Cabinet would decide and the process for payment of the land compensation would begin.

"Once the Cabinet sees and approves it, we will pay land compensations to the land owners," he said.

The CLP leader felt that the government should acquire land without any condition.

Citing past instances wherein land owners used to place conditions for employment of Grade III and IV posts from their side, he said such conditions gave lot of problems to the concerned department.

Making his position very clear in the House, he said he was not against any Khel people who had generously given land for the Medical College construction but was referring to the past experiences.

"Without any condition, pay the land compensation," he suggested.

Clarifying the position, Longon said legal document was done between the government and land owners during his predecessor's time and the Law Department had given concurrence to it.

"So it will come up for Cabinet approval," he said.

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