Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio today 29th May 2020 visited Ganeshnagar, Dimapur under Dhansiripar to take stock of the ongoing renovation works at Ganeshnagar which has been converted to COVID-19 Institutional Quarantine Center (IQC) as per decision of the Cabinet. The infrastructures at Industrial estate Ganeshnagar has been left abandoned for several years as no potential Naga entrepreneurs came forward to stay and work there.
As more stranded Naga people are arriving from other States, accommodation is becoming a challenge specially for Dimapur as out of the 18000 plus Returnees, Dimapur district has to shoulder the responsibility of housing more than 70%. In view of this, the Cabinet in its meeting held on 19th May at Kohima, decided for converting Industrial Estate Ganeshnagar into IQC where the Nagaland Police under the initiative of DGP Nagaland, John Longkumer and DIG Training, Aotemsu spearheaded for giving a complete facelift to the abandoned buildings, the renovation works of which started on 22nd May 2020.
In a brief programme during his visit today, Rio on behalf of the Government and his colleagues expressed profound gratitude and appreciation to the Nagaland Police, from DGP John Longkumer to all rank and files for making the area possible for habitation in record time. "Anywhere in the world police lends their committed services in times of disaster and today also you have shown your calibre, Well Done," Rio lauded and also donated Rs.5 lakh to honour and acknowledge the jawans with a bara khana.
The Chief Minister also informed that government would support the quarantinees at Ganeshnagar by imparting motivational training on business entrepreneurship, to those who desire to stay in Nagaland and earn their living. Rio emphasised for focussing in Agri and Allied, Entrepreneurship, Sports, Tourism in building the economy and informed that strategy group has been set up and are working on it. He further added that henceforth if anyone plans to go and work outside Nagaland he or she has to register with the Government and unless that is done, Government would not be responsible. "Government will discuss and take decision very soon in this regard," he maintained.
Rio dubbed the present pandemic as human problem, where one cannot go strictly by the rules.
Everyday it keeps on changing as per the situation of that day he said and informed that SOP would be reviewed during a Cabinet meeting to be convened on Monday.
Mentioning that Nagas in mainland India who has registered has started arriving, Rio informed that accommodation set ready in place comes to around 4500 presently including Ganeshnagar. All the Minister incharge, legislator teams are doing good work but Dimapur is getting the major burden and for which it was decided to use Ganeshnagar, he added. Rio while mentioning about the 25 COVID positive cases detected from the Chennai special train returnees, reminded that COVID-19 was a global pandemic and strongly felt that there should not be any blame game and social stigma attached. As a family we must all welcome them and also to those who are yet to arrive, let us welcome them with love, Rio urged.
Rio appreciated and thanked the tireless efforts rendered by the front line workers including the district administration, police, Civil societies, DTF, NGOs, churches and the public in general. "We have to fight Corona virus unitedly," Rio said.
Meanwhile, PHED Minister Nagaland, Jacob Zhimomi highlighted on the issue of shortage of medical staffs at Dimapur to which the Health and Family Welfare Minister Pangyu Phom assured to send additional force of medical team by next week.
Rio and his entourage visited all the 3 sectors where sector A and B has been completed with everything put in place with a capacity to house around 600 persons. The 3rd sector which has total capacity for accommodating another 600 people would be ready by next week.
DGP Nagaland, John Longkumer highlighted on the command flow chart, items to be provided to the inmates on arrival, expenditure incurred in renovating the Industrial Estate and budget requirement for catering, police mess and sanitation and scavenging duty. Longkumer also suggested to the Empowered Committee for sending quarantinees in large numbers at Ganeshnagar instead of sending in small batches.
Hosts of Ministers and Advisors including Neiba Kronu, Imna Along, Zhaleo Rio, Sukhalu, MLA Azheto, DIG Training Aotemsu, DC Dimapur Anoop Kinchi IAS, CP Dimapur Rothihu Tetseo IPS were among others who were present during Chief Minister's visit to Ganeshnagar.
(DPRO Dimapur)
