Nagaland CM calls for oil exploration in inter-state border areas in Budget

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Monday presented a Rs 23,183-crore budget for the 2023-24 fiscal, and called for oil exploration along the disputed border with Assam, besides allowing liquor sales in star category hotels.

The budget also emphasised on building infrastructure and strengthening the agriculture sector.

The government intends to start exploration and extraction of oil in the Disputed Area Belt (DAB) once the tripartite MoU with the Centre, Nagaland and Assam is signed, Rio said.

We are concerned at the substantial loss in revenues, while Assam continues to exploit the resources in the border areas to our disadvantage, the CM said, adding that the state government will also explore the possibility of introducing the sale of its own lotteries within Nagaland, to begin with.

Stressing the need to mobilise more resources to meet its increasing developmental needs, Rio also proposed allowing the sale of liquor to foreigners visiting the state, which, he said, is ...