DIMAPUR, April 28 - Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today said businesses, construction works and agricultural activities should be allowed to resume to revive the economy.
Addressing officials of the Dimapur district administration, police, medical department and members of the Dimapur Special Committee on COVID-19 at the conference hall of the Dimapur Commissioner of Police here, Rio said although Nagaland does not have many factories and industries, trade and construction works should resume.
He said with the monsoon approaching fast, road construction and other related works need to be carried out and agricultural activities should be undertaken as per directive of the Central Government.
Stating that 70 per cent of the Nagaland population comprises farmers, Rio said, �When farmers do not sow, there will be no harvest.� He said all construction materials are transported to Nagaland from other States, and then to other parts of the State from Dimapur. In this regard, the Chief Minister advised the administration and the police to formulate a policy on how to function to the convenience and betterment of all.
Rio appreciated the citizens of Dimapur, the district administration, police, medical fraternity, members of the special committee on COVID-19, NGOs, churches, various departments and others for working hard in containing the pandemic.
Rio said the first phase of the lockdown was successful, and that the second phase is due to expire on May 3 with partial relaxation, particularly in the green zones. �We need to educate the public on following the guidelines of social distancing,� he stressed.
The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction over the marked improvement in the Dimapur COVID-19 hospital as compared to its status during his last visit on April 3. �A lot of good things have happened,� he observed.
