Kohima: Nagaland Development Commissioner Y Kikheto Sema is fed up. He warned that the state government will blacklist contractors and punish departments stalling infrastructure projects. Sema chaired a review meeting at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat in Kohima on Wednesday to address sluggish work on schemes funded by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region and the North Eastern Council.
Cash is flowing, but results are not. Sema said, "The implementation and outcomes of several projects in the state have been unsatisfactory despite substantial financial assistance." These delays drive up costs and deny residents basic benefits. Funding agencies are already watching the state's poor performance closely.
Poor management of cash remains a massive hurdle. Several departments failed to touch funds sitting in the Central Nodal Account, ignoring constant reminders to spend the money. The state has already been forced to refund roughly Rs 32 crore to the central government due to lapses in execution and non-utilisation. Sema stated that such losses must never happen again.
New projects are now at risk. The state might lose future funding if departments keep failing to submit utilization certificates and completion reports. Sema ordered staff to finish estimates, clearances, and tendering during the monsoon. This keeps the working season clear for actual construction. He also demanded that departments hit the benchmarks set for Sustainable Development Goals.
Officials must now keep online dashboards updated to show real progress. Sema wants a results-oriented approach that creates jobs and fills infrastructure gaps. He expects departments to follow the Planning and Transformation Department's 2026-27 calendar strictly. No more rushing work at the end of the year.
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