During the 7th session of the 14th NLA held at the Nagaland Legislative Assembly Hall, Kohima on 4th September 2025, various starred and supplementary questions were raised by members of the assembly.
With respect to the starred questions raised by MLA, Kuzholuzo Nienu in relation to the Census 2027, the Deputy Chief Minister and Minister-in-charge of Home, Y. Patton said that the Government of Nagaland has received notification from the Government of India for the conduct of Census 2027 that has been published in the Gazette of India. With regards to the preparation of the same, Y Patton stated that the Home Department has been notified as the nodal department for the conduct of the Census and Home Commissioner has been notified as the Nodal Officer for the conduction. The notification has also issued for freezing of administrative boundaries w.e.f. 1st January 2026 till 31st March 2027 to facilitate the operations and a State Level Coordination Committee has been constituted under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary.
In continuation, a supplementary question was also raised by Nienu about the Census that would be used for 2028 delimitation exercise for which Patton stated that the Census 2027 would be the basis for it.
In regard to the starred questions raised by MLA, Kuzholuzo Nienu in relation to the Cross Border Movement, the Deputy Chief Minister, Y. Patton stated that the abolition of Free Movement Regime has not been communicated to the State Government and it is being implemented with additional sets of regulations, allowing the holder of a “Border Pass” issued by an authorized representative of the Assam Rifles to stay up to 7 days at a time within 10 km of the IMB. In continuation, Patton said that there were 9 entry and exit points when asked by Nienu as a supplementary question.
In a starred questioned on eviction of illegal immigrants by Assam government, raised by Member, NLA Achumbemo Kikon on how many Naga villages have been affected by the recent eviction drive of Illegal Immigrants by the Assam Government, Deputy Chief Minister and In-charge of Home and Border Affairs, Y. Patton, replied that 8 (eight) villages under Wokha District and 6 (six) villages under Niuland District was been affected. He also replied that the Nagaland Government was officially intimated and a joint meeting was convened on 22nd July 2025 between the Deputy Commissioners and SP of Niuland, Wokha, and the District Commissioner & Sr. SP of Golaghat, Assam wherein the issue of eviction to be conducted jointly was discussed.
On reply to the question whether Nagaland government has taken any steps to permanently protect the villagers presently settled at the Disputed Area Belt, Patton replied that the State Governments of Nagaland and Assam had signed four interim agreements on Nagaland-Assam border issue in the year 1972 and as per the Agreement, Naga settlements in the Disputed Area Belt (DAB) are not to be disturbed and status quo is to be maintained. Replying to another starred question Patton stated that at present, the question of reclaiming of evicted land does not arise, as the matter is sub-judice in the Supreme Court of India, and both the State Governments are required to maintain Status Quo.
In the discussion, Chief Minister, Dr. Neiphiu Rio also added that the state cabinet had taken a decision to increase the strength of Village guard forces in the border areas, and that the matter was taken up at the MHA however, the ministry objected to it, citing that Village guards are meant only for International and not inter-state borders.
Replying to a question raised by MLA, Kevipodi Sophie about the progress and status of the two- lane package-4 from D- Khel, Kohima Village to Kigwema Village, on the second day of the Seventh Session of the 14th NLA held at NLA Hall, Kohima on September 4, 2025, Deputy Chief Minister, T.R. Zeliang informed the house that the project is being implemented by NHIDCL under MORTH. He also added that the contractors are selected by MoRTH and that the State Government has no role in the selection process. He mentioned that the delay was due to land acquisition and legal issues. The project is now expected to be completed by March, 2026. He said that directions have been given to NHIDCL for quality work and timely completion of the project.
Responding to a supplementary question raised by MLA, Kuzholuzo Nienu on the number of entry and exit points in Nagaland, Deputy Chief Minister Y.Patton said that there are nine exit points. He also stated that Border pass is issued by authorised personnel of Assam Rifles and is issued only to adults. He also informed the house that State police along with medical staff is deployed to facilitate the Assam Rifles.
Answering to MLA, Achumbemo Kikon on the steps taken by the department to minimize Human- Elephant conflict, Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change & Village Guards, C.L. John replied that the Department has taken several steps, besides a proposal for converting the Doyang Plantation Division Wokha into a Wildlife Division. He also mentioned that the Department has submitted two different mitigation plans in this regard and requested the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to give permission for translocation of Elephants from human inhabited areas.
Kikon asked the Department for enhancement of compensation to those affected or killed by elephants, and urged the Department to deploy more forest personnel to the areas where a herd of elephants and other wild animals roam freely during the cropping seasons.
Advisor for Agriculture, Mhathung Yanthan appreciated the efforts of the department in mitigating the case of human- elephants conflict. He said, the elephant foraging area is 100 to 150 km which means the population has already exceeded the carrying capacity. Therefore, population control and relocation of elephants are the two possible ways to reduce conflict.
In response to a query raised by MLA Nuklutoshi regarding the future prospects of the Tuli Paper Mill, Rural Development and SIRD Minister, Metsubo Jamir informed that the company has indicated plans to shift its focus towards ethanol production, which is presently considered more profitable and economically viable than paper. Nuklutoshi also highlighted concerns over the ongoing negotiations between 3A Capital Service Ltd. and the mill workers for the settlement of pending salaries and dues, urging government intervention to ensure clearance of the overdue payments. On this matter, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio assured that a committee would be constituted to address the all issues relating to Paper Mill within a specified time frame. Advisor, Fisheries & Aquatic Resource, A. Pangjung Jamir also spoke on the issue.