The Nagaland Legislative Assembly today resolved to set up Nagaland Special Development Zones (NSDZs) to promote and facilitate faster industrialisation and urbanisation of the foothill areas of the state.
The resolution, which was presented by minister for Geology and Mining T R Zeliang on Saturday, was adopted today by voice vote.
While passing the resolution, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio asserted that the NSDZs would be taken up only after thorough consultation with tribal leaders and landowners in the areas which would come under the zone.
Zeliang said the resolution was needed to promote and facilitate faster industrialisation and urbanisation in Nagaland, to achieve faster growth and development of the state's economy and to generate more employment opportunities for the youth.
He maintained that by tradition, almost all Naga villages were located on hill-tops where there are serious logistical problems for developing infrastructure like roads, water supply, electricity etc.
So, people have to gradually come down from their traditional hill-top villages to the low lying areas of the state and take advantage of better facilities, which would eventually meet the aspirations of the future generations, the minister said.
