Dimapur, July 9 (MExN): The Forest department has categorically denied and refuted, in a press rejoinder, the allegation made by the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) that appeared in the July 9 issue of the local dailies regarding the encroachment of Hotohodi forest land under Mon Forest Division by the state Forest Minister and other state government officials.
Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), HQ, I Panger Jamir in the release stated “this rejoinder is issued in order to make its position clear and to let the people of Nagaland be aware of the actual status and position with regard to the purchased land in question”.
The CCF in the release stated that Hotohodi forest land covering an area of 1207.18 hectares was purchased in the year 1976-77. It stated that “the money” for the purchase of the forest land “was paid through the Deputy Commissioner, Mon vide government sanction order FOR-173/76 (E) 25/3/77, voucher No CR Vr No 47 of 3/77 amounting to Rs 27.83 lacs”. It informed that the plot of forest was purchased for bamboo plantations to cater to the demand of the now defunct Tuli Paper Mill. However, all the bamboo stocks in the area were depleted due to gregarious flowering of bamboo” it claimed.
The department, the release stated, initiated plans to restart bamboo plantation in the forest with plans announced by the Government of India to revive the defunct Tuli Paper Mill. The initiative was under taken with active participation of the local communities it stated. At present, the CCF in the rejoinder claimed that an area covering 700 hectares have been planted with funding from the National Bamboo Mission, “through community jhuming of the area”.
As such “there is no basis for encroachment into the Hotohodi plot or involvement of any individual as alleged by the NPCC” the released countered. Also a process is underway for a MoU to be reached between the government and the participating communities “which will incorporate mechanisms for development, protection and benefit-sharing between the two parties” it informed.
“The ownership of the land\area in question is and shall always be vested with the government”, therefore, the question of encroachment or grabbing of government land does not arise, it asserted. The initiative “being purely a developmental programme”, and so, “people should not look at it from a negative angle” the CCF stated in the rejoinder.
