Art 371(A) obstacle in Nagaland's urban development: Shurhozelie

Kohima, Nov 15 (UNI) Nagaland Planning and Urban Development Minister Shurhozelie has stressed the need for rethinking the implications of provisions of Article 371(A) of the Constitution on land holding system in Nagaland.

Mr Shurhozelie, who was addressing the Annual Conference of the Urban Development Department here yesterday, said, ''While the objective of such Constitutional provision in the state is to safeguard the interest of the community, it has only served as an obstacle to the development process in many occasions.'' Mr Shurhozelie also expressed concern over the abnormally high increase in the decadal average of urban population in the state which stands at 69.44 per cent and the increase in total population by 5.3 times since statehood in 1963.

He also regretted that many smaller towns are mushrooming in different parts of the state without any planning.

He regretted that the towns were grossly underdeveloped in terms of basic infrastructure and recreational facilities.

''The process of urbanisation in Nagaland is a ''skewed phenomena'', Mr Shurhozelie said ''We have to device a system that would ensure certain degree of balance urban growth pattern in Nagaland,'' he added.

UNI AS JYN PA GC1345