Phek, March 29 (MExN): Tsekhwelu Community Wildlife Conservation Drafting Committee (TCWCDC) has strictly prohibited rearing of any kind of cattle at Tsekhwelu. Cattle owners have been requested to make necessary alternative arrangement. The rules & regulations of the Committee which was released to the media stated that any stray cattle found without caretaker shall be killed at any time.
The Committee has also banned any kind of hunting, trapping, collection of medicinal plants, beetles etc in the area. Violators will be fined an amount of Rs. 5000/- per person – 75% of the fine imposed will be taken by the Action Committee and 25% will be given to the union, the media release stated. All the products will be seized and the seized products will be taken by the union, while hunting and trapping materials will be seized and will be returned only after the payment of fine in full only.
Burning of jungles has also been strictly prohibited at Tsekhwelu; a fine of Rs. 20,000/- will be imposed upon the violator. The Committee has also discouraged practice of jhuming and felling of trees in the area.
The rules & regulations which was approved by the Committee during its meeting held on December 7, 2015 at Chizami village said that the following villages fall under Tsekhwelu wildlife preservation project – Chizami, Enhulumi, Thetsumi, Tsüpfume, and Zelume. The nomenclature Tsekhwelu shall be used for the project only, it noted. Meanwhile, the demarcation of the project area is: North – Chizami and Enhulumi; South – Tsüpfume and Zelume; East – Thetsumi and Chizami; West – Tsüpfume and Mesulumi.
The Tsekhwelu Community Wildlife Conservation Drafting Committee was formed to frame rules and regulations for the Tsekhwelu wildlife preservation project on May 18, 2015.
