Kohima, March 22 : Nagaland Governor P B Acharya on Thursday said that the ruling People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) coalition government has accorded the highest priority to resolve the seven-decade-long Naga insurgency in the state.

“We will work will work with all stakeholders for a solution that is honourable, sustainable and acceptable to the people. We will not come in way of any political agreement that brings solution to the Nagala political (Naga insurgency) issue,” Acharya said in his address to the newly elected members of the 13th Nagaland Assembly.

“My government will move with firm resolve for reconciliation among all sections of the Nagas and for a negotiated political settlement that would bring peace in this land,” he said.

He noted that the newly installed PDA government is committed to bringing in a new vision for Nagaland on the twin foundations of good governance and transparency and development and economic growth.

“Peace for development and development for peace has been our motto, and we shall ensure ushering in an era of development with all round peace,” he asserted while apprising the House of the government’s plan to set up a Centre for Peace to help bringing together all stakeholders for a long-term peaceful settlement.

Acharya voiced confidence that members will bring in new ideas and thoughts for the betterment of our Society, guided by the concern for the welfare and interest of the people they represent.

Acharya mooted transparency, good governance and the culture of meritocracy with an objective to bring in accountability of government as the prime focus the government.

He further apprised of the government’s decision to ensure that all government departments and institutions have their websites and social media accounts for providing related information to citizens in a time bound manner.

“We have also decided that periodical appraisals and assessments of all Departments will be carried out to ensure timely achievement of targets to avoid delays and cost escalation, Aadhaar linkage to check bogus and fake beneficiaries and regular attendance of all employees to work,” he added.

Maintaining that the State in an unprecedented financial crisis, Acharya highlighted the huge financial deficit that new government has inherited which was Rs. 1657.88 Crores as of March 31, 2017 and likely to be higher at the end of March 2018.

He said the government has the challenge of bringing in fiscal prudence and discipline as also ensuring that we are able to get our due share in taxes and fiscal grants from the central government besides taking hard decisions to control wasteful expenditure and misuse of funds.

Acharya promised to ensure strict verification of the works done under development schemes before releasing the payment.

On the deplorable state of roads in the state, the Governor said repair and strengthening of roads will be the top priority of the government. He informed the government decided to start immediate repair and renovation of roads and filling of potholes in Kohima, Dimapur and all district headquarters.

The ongoing 4-laning works on Kohima-Dimapur road, being carried out by NHIDCL for a stretch of 42.86 km at a total cost of Rs 1066.55 crore, will be monitored closely for time bound completion, he added.

Acharya also highlighted the new government’s plans to improve road, air and rail connectivity, for modernisation of state police force, to set up Nagaland Investment and Development Authority to bring in investments and also to organize Business and Investment Summit to focus on strengths, to create proper marketing mechanism, including buy-back facilities, to encourage farmers to produce more and assure remunerative returns, for tourism development, for implementation of Nagaland Forest Management Project (NFMP) by the Forest Department with funding from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) among others.