CHUMOUKEDIMA, SEPTEMBER 17: Nagaland Chief Minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio has said he is “taken by surprise” over the controversy surrounding the Khelo India-funded multipurpose hall constructed at Longtho under the Mangkolemba administrative area.
Speaking to media persons after the NPF programme held in Chümoukedima on Thursday, Rio said he had sought information from the Department of Youth Resources and Sports regarding how the project came to be located at the particular site. He said he is questioning the department on how it has happened.
The Chief Minister explained that the government had initially been looking at projects across the districts before applications were received for individual projects. He said that it would not be possible to construct such facilities in every village given the large number.
The controversy surfaced after questions were raised over the location of the multipurpose hall, which was officially associated with Mangkolemba but was constructed at Longtho, where the private residence of Minister for Higher Education and Tourism Temjen Imna Along is located. The Department of Youth Resources and Sports had earlier clarified that the project was implemented at the designated and Ministry-approved geo-tagged location within the Mangkolemba administrative area.
