Advisor for Youth Employment & Skill Development and Excise, Nagaland, Moatoshi Longkumer, officially took charge as the new Chairman of the District Planning and Development Board (DPDB), Dimapur, on 26th of May 2025, during the monthly board meeting held at the Deputy Commissioner’s conference hall.
In his inaugural address, Moatoshi extended his congratulations to the newly inducted board members and urged all officers to work in unity to transform Dimapur into a model district. “Let us work hand in hand so that other districts envy Dimapur,” he stated, emphasizing the need for collective commitment and efficient execution of developmental initiatives.
Highlighting key priorities, the new chairman stressed the importance of submitting proposals—such as the urgent requirement for an emergency rescue vehicle—through proper channels to the State Government via the Planning Board for timely action.
Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Tinojongshi Chang, NCS, addressed the gathering and shared updates on pending proposals. He informed that the delay in submitting files for the proposed administrative headquarters at East Dimapur was due to the transition of officers.
The meeting also approved all pending applications for society registrations. A notable highlight was presented by Er. Lhuvoyi, EE (Power), Department of Power, Dimapur, detailing ongoing power reforms under the Government of India’s Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). The scheme aims to reduce Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses to 12–15% by March 2026 and bridge the gap between the Average Cost of Supply (ACS) and Average Revenue Realized (ARR).
As part of the initiative, smart prepaid metering and loss reduction measures are being rolled out across the state. Under the State Action Plan for Smart Consumer Interface (SASCI), 18,000 smart meters have been sanctioned for Kohima, Dimapur and Chümoukedima for 2021–22 and 2022–23.
The department also highlighted the “PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana”, launched in February 2024, which promotes rooftop solar installations in residential areas. Nagaland has been allocated a target of 32.8 MW of residential rooftop solar (RTS) capacity, with 8.337 MW earmarked for Dimapur alone.
Smart prepaid meters are expected to yield several benefits including energy conservation, reduced outages, flexible tariff options, better financial planning for consumers, and easy online recharge—ultimately contributing to improved service delivery and economic growth. The Department of Power has urged all stakeholders to support the implementation of these initiatives to ensure a reliable and sustainable power infrastructure for the state.
It has been further informed that the next DPDB meeting will include presentations from the PWD (R&B) Department and the Fisheries Department, aimed at strengthening inter-departmental coordination and strategic planning.
(Limatoshi, I.A, Dimapur)