Thepfulhouvi Solo
Tuensang-Mon Area was given Special Administrative consideration with Head Quarter at Tuensang when Nagaland State was created in 1963. In those days it took two whole days: one day from Sunrise to Sunset to travel from Kohima to Mokokchung through Amguri and the next day from Mokokchung to Tuensang in 4-Wheel Mahindra Jeep, the only Vehicle for all Nagaland for Officers.
All administrative and developmental matters concerning Tuensang-Mon Area used to be formulated and approved in the Special District Council at Tuensang.
Consequently all the Government Departments opened their District Offices at Tuensang. As for the Forest Department, its Forestry work consisted only of:
I. Construction Forest Roads from Helipong to Hakchang
II. Construction of Forest Road from Helipong to Chessore
III. Construction of Range and Staff houses at Tuensang
The Government of Nagaland use to get huge amount of Revenue from Sale of Stone Mahals from Dikhu River at Naginimora. Most Road constructions of upper Assam used Stones Naginimora.
The Government also used to get large amount of Revenue from Timber Operations in the Tizit-Tekang Forests; in addition the establishment of the first Plywood Factory with imported machines from Japan was at Tizit.
And large quantities of Timbers from Nagaland were smuggled to Amguri Wood Mill on the Assam-Nagaland border.
For the management, control and supervise all these huge Revenue generating forest operations, the Government needed the immediate establishment of Divisional Office at Mon.
Therefore the Government shifted the Divisional Forest Office from Tuensang to Mon.
This caused the members of the Tuensang-Mon District Council very agitated and criticized and scolded the Department Officers as if they were employed and paid Servants of the Council.
In the discussion of the matter in the Council, the Deputy Commissioner; Chairman of the Council, pacified the Members by saying: ‘It is natural for the Hen sits over where the Eggs are lying,’ and that sufficiently settled the matter in the minds of the practical members.
The Government knows where its Offices should be located and that is the prerogative of the Government.
In Nagaland, it appears an unavoidable custom that no tribe shows due graciousness to others at ordinary times, but when numbers are required, immediately 8000 NGOs gather in ‘an emergency’ meeting, and forms a JOINT FORUM to give an ULTIMATUM to whoever it dislikes with a Threat rider in classical Naga English saying: “In the event of not fulfilling our demand within 7 days given, the FORUM will decide its own form of actions it thinks best and it will not bear the consequences.”
The British in 1866 shifted their Sub Head Quarter at Assaloo, Sub Division of Nowgong District to “Samoogoodting” (Chümoukedima) to better check Angami Raids into North Cachar. Dimapur was already a bigger Station but they chose Chümoukedima in their own wisdom; Governments have every rights to decide that.
The Angami Public Organization was not pleased initially; but since the Chakhro Angamis preferred it, others did not raise any objection; in the slicing off of the Chakhro Area and make a new Dimapur District; none other has the right to go against the wishes of the people in the matter.
Now, the people of Niuland appear interested to have a District of their own; nobody should have much objection to it, because it is they who have the right to decide for themselves. It is to my knowledge; I have not heard any complain it. None the less, it is the Government finally the sole prerogative to decide.
It took the Government of Nagaland quite some time to decide to have a the District Office at Chümoukedima when Dimapur District was cut away from Kohima District to form the New Dimapur District: it took the Government much time to start the Offices and necessary other infra-structures. And Government took longer time to shift the Offices.
The CNTC has proved its own mettle and maintained an independent stand and remained neutral in the ‘gulmal’. In times like this any person or Organization displays its own mettle. The CNTC has enhanced its honor and respect among discerning people in Nagaland.
In the same manner the Government needs to have it own mettle and be decisive in times like this. That will make a correct very necessary mindset in the head of many Nagas of these days.
