Dimapur, September 3 (MExN): The North Eastern Council (NEC), under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), has completed nine projects worth nearly Rs 80 crore in Nagaland during July and August 2026, covering ecological conservation, drinking water, coffee processing, cultural preservation, tourism and road connectivity.
Five foundational initiatives worth Rs 16.06 crore were completed in July, according to an official NEC statement.
Under the Scheme of NEC (SoNEC) – 30 per cent Focused Development Component, two scientific afforestation projects were completed in Phek and Peren districts, each with an approved cost of Rs 3 crore.
The projects were aimed at restoring degraded landscapes, checking soil erosion and promoting biodiversity. They also involved Joint Forest Management Committees, providing wage employment and encouraging community participation in forest conservation.
The Clean and Safe Drinking Water Facility at Nagaland University's Medziphema Campus was operationalised on July 2. The Rs 4.43-crore project was executed by Nagaland University under NEC schemes and is intended to serve students, scholars and adjoining rural settlements.
The NEC also completed a Rs 4-crore project for value addition in Nagaland's coffee sector on July 15. The initiative involved financing modern coffee-roasting machines and training entrepreneurs to enable local growers to process their produce within the state.
In the cultural sector, the NEC completed the Naga Indigenous Inn-cum-Learning Centre at Kijulo, Phesama, at a cost of Rs 1.66 crore; the Museum-cum-Library and Guest House at Chungliyimti at Rs 3.11 crore; and the Konyak Heritage Complex in Mon district, sanctioned at Rs 22.78 crore.
The projects are aimed at preserving and promoting Naga heritage, folk history and indigenous traditions.
In the tourism sector, the Development of Kohima View Point at Aradura Hills, Kohima, sanctioned at Rs 4.50 crore, was completed, providing a vantage point overlooking the surrounding hills of the state capital.
Under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS-Roads), the NEC completed an 8.4-km road and bridge project from NH-29 at 7th Mile Model Village through Seithekiema C Tourist Destination to Niuland Road towards Governor's Camp. The project was sanctioned at Rs 32.89 crore.
During July-August, the NEC also released Rs 33.92 lakh under SoNEC towards the nearly completed Tribal Artisans Resource Centre at Chümoukedima, sanctioned at Rs 2.91 crore.
In addition, Rs 6 lakh was allocated for an awareness workshop on cultivation and trade of agarwood, aimed at promoting sustainable livelihood opportunities linked to the fragrant forest resource.
The projects, according to the NEC, reflect its focus on combining ecological conservation, cultural preservation, civic amenities, tourism, connectivity and livelihood promotion in Nagaland.
