The small northeastern state already has 11 districts and given the pressure, the creation of several new ones seem inevitable.
Health and family welfare minister Kuzholuzo Neinu said at a meeting yesterday that the state government was considering a proposal to carve Tseminyu district out of Kohima.
Government sources said Tseminyu district would include Pughoboto subdivision, now under Zunheboto district.
The news came as a surprise even for the people of Tseminyu, which had just been upgraded by the state cabinet to a district planning centre on Wednesday.
Neinu’s disclosure, however, irked those demanding other districts.
The people of Shamator subdivision have been demanding a separate district to be carved out of Kiphire district, while residents of Aboi subdivision have been pressing for the creation of Aboi district out of Mon district.
Naga People’s Front (NPF) ministers S. Heno and P. Longon are supporting a drive for creation of a separate Noklak district. Noklak, inhabited by Khiamniungan Naga tribe, is one of the most backward areas of the state.
On the other hand, the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO), representing people from Tuensang, Kiphire, Longleng and Mon districts, has been demanding a separate state — Frontier Nagaland.
They have submitted several memoranda to the Centre, including one submitted recently to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, urging him to expedite creation of the new state.
The ENPO has vowed to continue a democratic struggle till the new state is created. It even rejected a state government offer for an autonomous council for the four backward districts, calling it a piecemeal solution.
Minister for urban development Shurhozelie Liezietsu, who is also the president of the Naga People’s Front, a major constituent of the ruling coalition, blamed the demand for the separate state — at a time when the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) is bargaining for the integration of all contiguous Naga-inhabited areas under one administrative unit — on “external forces trying to create division among Naga people”.
He asked all Naga organisations and groups to remain united to ensure progress.