Dimapur, June 20 (MExN): Strengthened by resolve offered by a united Naga civil society, the usually docile state government of Nagaland has decided to take “immediate and effective measures” to protect all public properties. The property of the people includes all government lands, with special reference to reserved forest and road-reserved areas.
While putting the resolve to action remains to be seen in the coming days, the decision has nonetheless been taken. A consultative meeting was held June 20 where the issue of encroachment into Intangki Reserved Forest and government lands was discussed with Naga civil society. Offering full support to the government’s decision in the meeting was the Council of Ministers, legislators including Opposition Congress and the Naga Hoho, the ENPO, NSF, NMA and the major Naga tribal hohos.
The government has decided that the state will now take immediate and effective measures to “protect” all public properties including reserved forests and government lands, government buildings and compounds. The state will be carrying out eviction drives “wherever necessary,” the government today informed in a notification issued by Chief Secretary Lalthara, IAS.
The Naga public, or as represented by Naga civil organizations, are also to extend all assistance and cooperation to the government in the effort to preserve and protect all government lands. A more proactive stand against all forms of encroachment into public lands and properties is resolved for.
Referring to the Intangki National Park issue, the government said the case of Beisumpuikum village will be examined by a committee. The village is said to have made a proposal to ‘exchange their recognized village land with the land inside Intangki Reserved Forest which they had illegally occupied’. The committee is to study the matter and submit their findings to the state government. The committee is to consist of government officials along with the Naga Hoho and the ENPO.
