Kohima, July 11 (MExN): The office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest has clarified that the Hotahoti is not a reserved forest and the land is to be used exclusively for bamboo plantation. This was stated in a rejoinder by Wepretso, Conservator of Forest (HQ) to “NPCC responds to statement on Hotahoti published in a local daily on July 11”. The Forest department purchased Hotahoti (1207.18 hectares) in 1976-77 and out
of which this year 700 hectares were used for bamboo plantation and the remaining area to be taken when appropriate fund is being sanctioned.
It stated that the department had purchased 12677.664 hectares of land in different location for bamboo plantation to supply to NPPC, Tuli. So far, 3415 hectares of bamboo plantation has been funded by the National Bamboo Mission.
Meanwhile, the plantation is raised with the involvement of communities in which they are allowed to do Jhum cultivation. They have to sign a MoU to the department with regard to planting, protection and benefit sharing and yearly pay a token money to acknowledge the ownership of the land. The land cannot be distributed to any community or individual, it stated.
