NSLSA Member Secretary and resource persons along with participants during a seminar held on October 18 at Hotel Japfü, Kohima.
Kohima, October 19 (MExN): The Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA), in collaboration with the Nagaland State Pollution Control Board, organized a seminar on “Environmental laws and the harmful impacts of pollution and environmental degradation” at Hotel Japfü, Kohima on October 18.
Delivering the keynote address, NSLSA Member Secretary, Neiko Akami, NJS, underscored the need to conduct more programmes to sensitize and create awareness among the public and various stakeholders on the importance of protecting and conserving forests and water resources from further destruction.
Highlighting several environmental issues affecting the state, Akami stated that Nagaland has been experiencing heatwaves, floods, soil erosion, landslides, air pollution, and water shortages. He noted that major road construction projects over the past few years have led to large-scale deforestation and destruction of flora and fauna.
“To have good road is to boast economy and comfort travelling but due to massive soil cutting our rivers are flooded with dirt, soil erosion has affected the cultivated paddy crops and other agri-allied products, many irrigation lane are destroyed causing decreased of food productivity without any doubt there was so much destruction of trees and plants, our rivers stones were been exploited and had experience the shortage of fishes in rivers, less rainfall and perhaps more heatwave when our forest were destroyed at large due to road construction and other nature resources exploitation in the land,” he stated.
In this regard, Akami called for policy measures to adopt massive tree plantation drives and to create widespread awareness on environmental conservation. He also pointed to the ill effects of shifting or jhum cultivation and forest burning, stressing the need to address all forms of air and water pollution, jungle burning, and the exploitation of forests and natural resources.
Akami further opined that every village in the state should organize tree plantation initiatives with active state support, while also emphasizing the preservation of wildlife sanctuaries and the effective implementation of the Wild Life (Protection) Act.
During the technical session, Sidramappa Chalkapure, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests, Kohima, spoke on the legal framework for the conservation of forests, wildlife, and the environment, highlighting relevant acts and rules applicable to the state.
Akangmeren Imchen, Scientist ‘C’, Nagaland Pollution Control Board, presented on the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, while Yanthung Kithan, Scientist ‘B’, Nagaland Pollution Control Board, discussed the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.
Earlier, the programme was chaired by Nagali Shohe, Panel Lawyer, Kohima District Legal Services Authority, and attended by panel lawyers and para-legal volunteers from various DLSAs.
