Morung Express News
October 12
DIMAPUR: There are reports that Jalukie may after all not be considered for selection as the ‘model town’ District Headquarter like hitherto speculated, based on the observations made in the report of the Site Verification Committee, which was instituted by the Government to recommend a suitable site for a ‘Model HQ’ in Peren.
It is learnt that the observations made in the report of the Site Verification Committee in regard to Jalukie as a possible district HQ for Peren was just an observation from the Committee to draw comparison with the other areas in regard to feasibility and cost-effective factors, said the official on condition of anonymity while also disclosing that Jalukie area fell outside the preview of the Site Verification Committee. A highly-placed official closely associated with the matter disclosed that only three areas/sites namely, New Peren Kezanglwa, Lamhai Dungki and the present Peren town, were officially pinpointed for selection.
Meanwhile it is also learnt that based on the initial examination and observation made by the Site verification committee after visiting the three sites, Kezanglwa had been earmarked as ‘the top-priority site’ but had to retract the recommendations after differences cropped up among the populace of the areas in question, pertaining to the site for the proposed model town HQ. Sources also said that the matter was still pending with the Commissioner Nagaland’s Office, the Chairman of the Site Verification committee for the reason that the local people were divided on the issue of which site should be chosen. Hectic lobbying are reported to be taking place in the mentioned areas to support a particular area(s) due to the reason that the Government-instituted Site Selection Committee was considering and allowing opinions from the local population on the issue. Based on initial observations New Peren Kezanglwa emerged the top choice above Lamhai Dungki and present Peren. Curiously, Kezanglwa was reported to have been ‘rejected’ by the committee since it was a disputed area.
Conflicting reports abound on the matter: some sources say the majority of the Peren citizens were in favor of Kezanglwa as the HQ while the Zeliangrong Baudi (Hoho) “after tremendous public referendum” was favoring New Peren and conversely on the other end, 11 villages under Peren Town supporting Peren Town. Sources said the Baudi has already decided to recommend New Peren Kezanglwa to the government. The Baudi could not be contacted for confirmation.
The recommendation of “the entire people to have New Peren Kezanglwa as model HQ” was then submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of Peren which was then forwarded to the Government. When Contacted an official from the selection committee said that as of now Kezanglwa was the top choice and not Jalukie since it did not fall within the preview of the sites identified for the selection. “But let’s not speculate for now since the issue is still yet to be agreed upon and moreover it’s the government who will be deciding; the committee’s recommendations are not final” said an official. The Commissioner could not be contacted for comment.
