The monthly meeting of the District Planning & Development Board (DPDB) Kohima was held on 8th August, 2023 at the DPDB Conference Hall under the chairmanship of Kevipodi Sophie, MLA and Chairman of DPDB Kohima. The meeting was presided over by Deputy Commissioner and Vice Chairman of DPDB Kohima, B. Henok Buchem (NCS),.
Welcoming the members, the DC reviewed the minutes of the previous meeting and expressed gratitude for the cooperation extended during recent events. He thanked the officers designated to perform liaison duties for the Dr. T. Ao Football Tournament for their involvement so far, noting their coordination with the organising committee, participating teams, and relevant departments to ensure smooth execution. The Chairman also welcomed the newly posted Superintendent of Police, Kohima, Shri Krodi Rhetso (NPS), to the DPDB.
A PowerPoint presentation was delivered by Deputy Commissioner of Excise (Zonal), Venezolu Dawhuo, on the activities of the Excise Department, Kohima. She outlined the department’s history, noting its establishment on December 1, 1963, and its re-designation as the Excise & Prohibition Department following the enactment of the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989.
The department now primarily focuses on enforcing the NLTP Act, 1989, and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, shifting away from its earlier revenue collection role. Its duties include the prevention, control, and regulation of liquor possession, sale, manufacture, and transportation, as well as curbing the smuggling of excisable goods and narcotic drugs. It also regulates denatured spirits for industrial use and coordinates with central agencies such as the Narcotics Control Bureau and the Central Bureau of Narcotics.
In the last financial year, the Kohima unit registered 1,040 cases of NLTP Act violations, seizing 1.725 kg of heroin and 9,000 bottles of codeine cough syrup. From January 2024 to June 2025, fines amounting to ₹11,26,000 were realized and deposited as revenue. During the Hornbill Festival 2024, the department issued 53 temporary liquor permits to food stalls for tourist consumption.
Awareness programmes on drug and alcohol abuse were also conducted, including one at Kezocha under the Village Adoption Committee. Notably, on September 29, 2024, 1.61 kg of heroin (161 soap boxes) was seized at Khuzama Check Gate.
The meeting further discussed and approved proposals under the Local Area Development Programme (LADP) 2025–26, with the Chairman urging departments to coordinate with the District Planning Officer to avoid overlap.
On the proposed shifting of the administrative headquarters from Sechü-Zubza, the SDO (C) informed the house that a joint consultative meeting with stakeholders was held on 14th July 2025. The Chairman advised forming a committee comprising representatives from 14 villages and the Western Angami Public Organization to follow up on the matter.
The meeting concluded with the announcement that the next PowerPoint presentation will be delivered by the Veterinary Department.
(Molungnenla IA)