Land encroachment worries Nagaland Parliamentary Secy

Kohima:  Nagaland Parliamentary Secretary for PWD (Housing) Levi Rengma expressed serious concern about rapid land encroachment by individuals and groups due to which the state government lost most of its lands.
An official report on Sunday said that Rengma had expressed concern over land grabbing of the government during inspection of various Housing projects in Dimapur.
He, on Saturday said that legal procedures should be initiated in order to safeguard Government properties.  It is illegal on the part of individuals or party in grabbing land.
Lots of lands have been lost due to encroachment, but should not be lose lose anymore, he said.
During his interaction with officials of PWD (H) division, Mr Rengma said it was the prerogative of Engineers to provide safe housing for all, along with facilities such as safe drinking water, proper drainages, parks and good roads.
He, however, said that despite the Government creating assets for the public, the maintenance part was always forgotten. “It is the responsibility of officers to show to the public that things are actually done and not only in papers, he added.  He, however, lamented that Housing being an important department, lack of funds for maintenance was one of the biggest problems.  Though Centre allocates fund for Housing, being the nodal department, it does not reach the department, he said, adding, that this results in under utilisation of department experts and officials.
Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Public Relation (I&PR) Khekaho Assumi, who accompanied Rengma suggested that government departments need to procure pattas for all Government lands in order to safeguard properties. He further underlined the need for proper housing plans in the state to withstand natural disasters.  He also informed that the state government in 2005 had allotted I&PR department almost 50 puras of plot at Kushiabill area in Dimapur. However, not an inch of land was available, when the verification team visited the area. (UNI)