Kohima, Nagaland – The Nagaland government has approved the bifurcation of Phek district to create a new district, Meluri, marking it as the 17th district in the state. This decision was reached in a recent Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, as confirmed by Forest Minister and government spokesperson, C L John.
Meluri, primarily inhabited by the Pochury Naga tribe, will become Nagaland’s fifth new district in the past three years. Previously, the state witnessed the formation of Tseminyu, Chumoukedima, and Niuland districts from Dimapur in December 2021, followed by the creation of Shamator from Tuensang in January 2022.
The move has received strong support from local leaders, with Meluri’s MLA, Z Nyusietho Nyuthe, who also serves as an advisor for New & Renewable Energy and the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority, expressing his gratitude to CM Rio. Nyuthe commended the Chakhesang community, a dominant group in Phek, for backing the Pochury tribe’s aspirations for district status.
Encompassing an area of 1,011 sq km, Meluri houses 31 recognized villages and four administrative hubs, including Wazeho, an industrial town, and the International Trade Centre (ITC) in Avangkhu, located on the Myanmar border.
The Pochury Hoho, the tribal body representing the Pochury community, hailed the decision as a “red letter day” for their people. In a statement, the Hoho extended thanks to CM Rio, the Cabinet, and local representatives, emphasizing the significance of this new administrative milestone for the community.