Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has stressed the need for mandatory Geotechnical reports for all building permits, particularly in landslide-prone areas of Nagaland.

Addressing the inaugural session of a three-day training on Urban and Local Resilience for elected representatives of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Kohima on Tuesday, Rio underlined the importance of soil assessments before undertaking any infrastructure development in the state.

Citing Nagaland’s complex, young, and geologically unstable terrain, the Chief Minister said a Geotechnical report is “absolutely essential” to ensure safe and sustainable construction practices. He urged local councilors to refrain from approving any development projects without proper soil investigation.

Rio further called for ULB-led scrutiny of building projects to be implemented across all towns in the state to enhance disaster resilience and urban safety.