Nagaland Assembly Passes Two Important Bills

KOHIMA: In a historic legislative session on Thursday, the Nagaland Assembly passed two significant bills that will improve urban planning and validate the state's investment policy. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio introduced the Nagaland Town and Country Planning (Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2025, which will update town planning regulations by making provisions for town planning schemes and service requirements of peri-urban areas.

CM Rio elaborated on the bill's intent, highlighting the concept of pooling land from multiple owners, with their consent, to create organized layouts that include vital public infrastructure such as roads, schools, and hospitals. He underscored the importance of developing master plans for peri-urban regions, which are in a transitional phase from rural to urban settings.

Additionally, Deputy Chief Minister T R Zeliang introduced the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (Validation) Bill, 2025. The bill aims to validate on a statutory basis the existence of the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) as an investment promotion agency, which was notified long ago in 2018. Zeliang noted that the lack of legislative support had raised concerns among various stakeholders regarding IDAN's legal standings.

Despite proposals for amendments from the Assembly Secretariat, the 60-seat House with no opposition currently unanimously passed both bills by voice vote, as testified by Speaker Sharingain Longkumer. The passage of the bills is a step towards enhancing Nagaland's urban planning and investment environment.

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