Morung Express News
Kohima | March 29
Although the State Cabinet, on March 15 last unanimously agreed to protect Intangki National park at any cost, and which was reiterated by Forest Minister, Kheto, today while replying to the starred question raised by Congress MLA C. Apok Jamir, and dissident NPF legislator, K Therie, the State government appears to be still relying on the NSCN-IM forces to carry out eviction drive inside the park.
Forest Minister, Kheto admitted on the floor of the house that encroachment has been going on inside the park and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protect it. The Minister however, disclosed that the State government had written to the NSCN-IM authorities for a discussion on the issue, and action against the encroachers will be initiated after the meeting with the latter.
Making an evasive reply, Kheto, did mention about the encroachment made by the Beisumpuikam village in 1992, the traditional owners of the park, and the subsequent court verdict in favour of the state government. He however, conveniently ignored to mention about the heavy encroachments way back in 1994, which was evicted by the NSCN-IM after the State government failed to carry out the same.
This time too, the State government appears to be shifting its responsibility of evicting the encroachers to the NSCN-IM, as they had already requested the latter to assist the State in protecting the park. It was learnt that the NSCN-IM has not responded till date on the request of the state government.
In a manner of blaming the previous Congress regime of failure to protect the park, Kheto clarified that the proposed land exchange deal could not be carried out till date with Beisumpuikam village, as a large portion of land belonging to Paijol village is also involved.
Surprisingly, Forest Minister disclosed to the house that Rs 21.74 lakh had already been spend during the year 2006-07, under the centrally sponsored project ‘Elephant Reserve’ on identification and survey of elephant habitat in the State, eco-restoration of the habitat, protection works, eliciting public cooperation for reducing man-elephant conflict and research and monitoring activities.
Giving out the details of the works completed during the year 2006-07, Forest Minister said that Rs 1.60 lakh had been spend on identification and systematic survey of all elephants bearing area in the State, Rs 2.25 lakh on eco-restoration of the habitat, Rs 1 lakh on protection works and construction of watch tower, Rs 50,000 for rewards to informers for intelligence gathering, Rs 12 lakh for anti-poaching squads, Rs 1.50 lakh for upkeep of departmental elephants, Rs 40,000 for protection/anti-poaching camp, Rs 20,000 for creation of fire lines, Rs 50,000 for public awareness, celebration of elephant day, Rs 1 lakh for improvement of support service, including monitoring research and training, Rs 24,000 on immunization of cattle on the fringes of Intangki, Rs 55,000 for eco-development in and around elephant bearing areas and corridors, handicraft works and provision of weaving and handloom unit for women folks.
Although, it was not known how all these works were carried out when the forest department has admitted that the Park has gone out of department hands since last few years, and its personnel could not enter the Park due to present of underground cadres, the Minister claimed that these were the targets for the year 2006-07 and has been achieved.
Interestingly according to the official news bulletin, Kheto stressing on the measures taken by the Government to protect and preserve the Wildlife Sanctuary in the state said that eco-development activities are being taken up and whenever there are encroachments, evictions have been carried out with the help of the Administration and the Police. He also said that publicity and awareness drives to protect the sanctuaries with the involvement of the local people are being undertaken and Wildlife Week is also observed in the month of October everywhere year.
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