Kohima, Sept. 3 -- The Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Thursday passed a Bill to establish the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA), granting legislative, executive and financial autonomy to the region comprising the state's six eastern districts.

The Bill provides for the creation of the FNTA in line with the February 5 memorandum of agreement (MoA) between the Centre, the Neiphiu Rio-led Nagaland government and the Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation (ENPO). The authority will cover Tuensang, Mon, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak and Shamator districts.

The revised Bill, introduced in the Assembly on Tuesday, paves the way for the FNTA based on the spirit of Article 371A of the Constitution, providing for democratic, dece...