Mezoma, May 24: The government has launched efforts to make this tiny village, two hours’ drive from the state capital and next door to famous Khonoma village, into a tourist destination.

The construction of a narrow pathway to the Sovinotsiekha cliff was inaugurated by tourism minister Vatsü Meru today. The intention is to capitalise on the scenic locales, the megaliths within the village and the adjoining sanctuary for Blythe’s tragopan.

That Khonoma is the birthplace of legendary A.Z. Phizo is well known to interested tourists and historians. But the condition of the road from Kohima to Khonoma is deplorable.

As a senior government official hailing from the village said, while it took less than an hour earlier to reach Khonoma from Kohima, “today it takes more than an-hour-and-a-half”.

Now that the new government is in place, it has promised to give tourism a fillip. Roads form the basic infrastructure needed to promote tourism. In fact, Khonoma villagers claim that funds had been received in the past for road construction but “had been diverted”.

“We have told the government many times about this,” said tourism secretary Thangi Mannen. She said the issue had now been conveyed to the Union surface transport ministry.

Asked if roads would come up in the near future, Meru said the government had begun to plan things out. He said the art, culture and tourism ministry would also to be informed regarding the state’s potential in tourism and promotion.

Union minister for art, culture and tourism Jagmohan, will visit Nagaland for a function in June.

He would also hold meetings with government officials and ministers to take stock of the state’s needs in the field, sources said.