Images of teak trees being felled reportedly at the Police Complex, Chümoukedima. (Photo Courtesy: Social Media)
Morung Express News
Kohima | May 10
When the felling of trees reportedly planted during the 1980s in the Police Complex, Chümoukedima emerged on social media, creating rage among users, Deputy Chief Minister & Home Minister, Y Patton reportedly tweeted: “It is enraging to see images of teak trees being felled, reportedly at the Police Complex, Chümoukedima, and being transported to. An investigation related to the act has been initiated, and an Enquiry Committee has been set up. Those involved in it will be penalised accordingly.”
A minute after the tweet, WeTheNagas, which describes itself as a digital news platform had carried a screenshot of the tweet along with photographs. However, the original tweet was reportedly deleted. This was confirmed with the digital news platform.
Meanwhile, the Nagaland DGP issued a rejoinder with regard to the issue.
The DGP rejoinder had stated that “the felling of around 50 number of these trees was necessitated due to security reasons to the under construction VIP guest house. Further these trees posed hazard to the existing Police Mess and cottages. These trees were on the land of Police Department and belonged to the Department. All due procedures were followed in removal and disposal of these trees and the proceeds of these trees were to be deposited to PHQ. After due process and permissions, we proposed to use it to develop a Horti Orchard in the space cleared under the supervision of 1st NAP, as a Police Welfare measure.”
On the procedure followed for such a case, The Morung Express spoke with a reliable source from the Forest Department, who informed that procedure wise, ideally, the department should be informed through an application stating the number of trees to be felled. Then, the staff from the Forest Department is sent to verify, see the volume of the timber, or estimate how much revenue would be generated out of it.
The applicants are allowed to cut the trees by themselves after necessary formalities owing to less manpower and lack of machinery of the Forest department. “However, if they are selling the timber, they are bound to pay forest royalty at a government notified rate.” the source further said. The current Forest Royalty for Teak is Rs 2,225 per Cubic Metre or Rs 63 per Cubic Feet.
As per rule, permission is required from the Forest Department before undertaking such an activity. “But they might have permitted within their department or establishment due to ignorance of procedure,” the source remarked on the current issue of felling of trees in the Police Complex, Chümoukedima.
While there are isolated cases by the government with regard to felling of trees, another official pointed to the Nagaland Tree Felling Regulation 2002 (which was further revised), and said that when you want to fell trees, one has to register with the concerned officer of the Forest Department to be granted permission before proceeding.
Meanwhile, on May 10, the Nagaland Law Students’ Federation (NLSF) issued a press release, drawing attention of the Home Minister stating that, “there has been a malafide intent in the felling of teak trees within the Police Complex, Chümoukedima by certain officers of the Police Department.”
“At least 50 teak trees has been hewn down and transported in total violation of the Indian Forest Act 1927,” it stated in the press release.
The NLSF further said that “the statement of DGP Nagaland claiming that the teak trees posed a security risk and were a hazard to the nearby buildings is nothing but disinformation and baseless justification to manipulate public opinion unless all the required procedures for felling down teak trees is made open in black and white in the public domain.”
Taking cognizance of the matter, the Nagaland Law Students’ Federation appealed the Home Minister “to properly investigate the case and book all the persons involved in the deforestation at Police Complex, Chümoukedima and penalise them under Section 33 (f) of the Indian Forest Act 1927 and other provisions of the law, if found guilty.”
