Farming and digging of earth near the base of the Rangapahar Zoological Park walls by “encroachers” is posing a threat to the walls.
DIMAPUR, APRIL 26 (MExN): After purging Intanki National Park from encroachments, the Nagaland Forest department is intent on removing another thorn in the flesh - “illegal hutments” mushrooming along boundary walls of Rangapahar Zoological Park.
On Friday, Minister for Forest and Border Affairs, Y Patton, accompanied by Commissioner & Secretary, Forest, L Kire, and top rung officials of the Forest department inspected the length of encroachment along the park’s boundary walls. Of the 20-odd tin-roof thatch houses constructed on “encroached land” between the highway and the park’s walls includes a church with its cross facing the road.
“No one should use the name of God to grab land. It’s a disgrace”, the Minister commented and assured that the department would take all possible measures to protect the last vestige of green cover in the commercial hub.
Rangapahar reserved forest originally boasted of 800 hectares of lush forest and vegetation, an ideal wild life habitat. Rampant encroachment of the forest over the years has reduced the forest (now converted to a zoological park) to its present mere 176 hectares. Despite evictions done in the past, the alleged encroachers have on numerous occasions taken recourse in the lengthy route of legal proceedings to frustrate the government’s eviction drives.
The latest legal battle between the State Government as petitioner and Thilixu ‘B’ village as respondents is still pending in the high court.
The Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, in its interim order dated June 11, 2012, stated that “the matter be listed after two weeks and in the meantime respondents are directed not to go for any further construction from the date of passing this order.”
“Now almost a year has elapsed, but so far the matter has not been listed and in the meantime, the encroachers have violated the court order by constructing additional houses”, a Forest official said.
L Kire informed that the two counsels of the government, LS Jamir and Kakheto Shohe would be meeting the Chief Minister and Forest minister on Friday evening to brief them on the status of the court case.
Both Patton and Kire also reminded of the earlier resolutions passed by tribal hohos and NGOs to protect the zoological park and called for renewed and collective efforts to preserve the park for posterity. Later, the Forest Minister also visited the Intanki National Park in Peren district, some 40 kms from Dimapur. Interacting with Forest officials and guards, the minister showered praise on the Forest Protection Force (FPF) for effectively tackling encroachment inside the park.
Forest officials informed that since the last eviction drive done in January 9, 2012, the “encroachers” have not set foot again to set up villages or settlements inside the park, chiefly due to round the clock surveillance of FPF. Acknowledging the contribution of the force in protecting the park, Patton assured to look into their problems including better uniform, procurement of small arms and high powered vehicles.
Likewise, L Kire commented on the performance of the Forest Protection Force, “I see there is still hope and future for Intanki and bio-diversity conservation in the state.” Chief conservator of Forest, T Lotha, apprised the Minister on the need to raise 100 more FPF personnel to effectively guard the state’s reserve forests and parks.
Intanki Park with an area of 2.2 square km (20,220 hectares) is home to variety of rare animals and birds including hoolock gibbon, golden langur, sloth bear, clouded leopard, wild boar, elephant and hornbill.
