Your Excellency,
The Tenyimi People’s Organization (TPO) representing 10 tribes within the Naga family joins the rest of our people in extending our warmest welcome to you on your first visit to Nagaland.
Human diversity and Biodiversity are two extraordinary assets of Northeast India. But they are often insufficiently recognized. The impacts made on them by the accelerating changes taking place within and outside the region are turning these assets into extremely difficult challenges which are increasingly beyond our control.
We believe your visit to the region gives us a special opportunity and privilege to seek your direct intervention in a crisis that threatens to destroy a vital biodiversity asset of our people. It falls within the jurisdiction of one of our constituent tribes. TPO therefore is making this submission for your urgent attention and kind consideration for appropriate instruction to the concerned authorities in your Government.
As stated in our attached Memorandum to Shri Jayaram Ramesh, the Honourable Union Minister for Environment and Forests, dated November 12, 2010, for ready reference, the Intangki National Park, the asset under discussion, is 22, 202 Hectares in size (200 sq kms), situated in Peren District of Nagaland.
The sensitive, strategically located, ecosystem protected by Nature for millions of years, is under serious threat of rapid destruction. Over 2000 family of encroachers have over the years illegally taken possession of extensive tracts of virgin forest land, sold off the timber trees and started to cultivate them. The arguments and excuses employed by them to justify their blanket violations of the provisions of the Nagaland Forest Act of 1968, and other laws related to protection of forests have no legal basis whatsoever.
As clarified in the second attached Memorandum to the Honourable Minister for Forests, Ecology, Environment and Wild Life, Government of Nagaland, the Park, a priceless heritage, was originally made available for all Nagas by the far-sighted elders of the Besumpui village of the Zeliangrong people.
The Nagas too have understood the grim implications of Climate Change. We have also grasped the imperative need globally to stop the destruction of the green cover of our planet, and to increase it at all costs. That is where we too have a small part to play.
The Intangki National Park, a reserved forest, is a sacred gift of our elders for the well being of all Nagas, India and the world. TPO regards it as our privileged responsibilities to rally all Nagas to ensure that the integrity of the eco-system nurtured within the forest is preserved without encroachment of any kind being allowed to degrade it further. It is a small but important part of the larger “Lung of Mankind”.
Therefore, your Excellency, we earnestly request your understanding of our determined attempt being made and your intervention so that the National Park may be saved before it is too late. We are clear, a National Property such as this Park becoming the private properties of individuals is out of the question.
I remain,
Yours faithfully,
(Z. M. SEKHOSE)
President,
Tenyimi People’s Organization.
Nagaland, Manipur & Assam States.
The Tenyimi People’s Organization (TPO) representing 10 tribes within the Naga family joins the rest of our people in extending our warmest welcome to you on your first visit to Nagaland.
Human diversity and Biodiversity are two extraordinary assets of Northeast India. But they are often insufficiently recognized. The impacts made on them by the accelerating changes taking place within and outside the region are turning these assets into extremely difficult challenges which are increasingly beyond our control.
We believe your visit to the region gives us a special opportunity and privilege to seek your direct intervention in a crisis that threatens to destroy a vital biodiversity asset of our people. It falls within the jurisdiction of one of our constituent tribes. TPO therefore is making this submission for your urgent attention and kind consideration for appropriate instruction to the concerned authorities in your Government.
As stated in our attached Memorandum to Shri Jayaram Ramesh, the Honourable Union Minister for Environment and Forests, dated November 12, 2010, for ready reference, the Intangki National Park, the asset under discussion, is 22, 202 Hectares in size (200 sq kms), situated in Peren District of Nagaland.
The sensitive, strategically located, ecosystem protected by Nature for millions of years, is under serious threat of rapid destruction. Over 2000 family of encroachers have over the years illegally taken possession of extensive tracts of virgin forest land, sold off the timber trees and started to cultivate them. The arguments and excuses employed by them to justify their blanket violations of the provisions of the Nagaland Forest Act of 1968, and other laws related to protection of forests have no legal basis whatsoever.
As clarified in the second attached Memorandum to the Honourable Minister for Forests, Ecology, Environment and Wild Life, Government of Nagaland, the Park, a priceless heritage, was originally made available for all Nagas by the far-sighted elders of the Besumpui village of the Zeliangrong people.
The Nagas too have understood the grim implications of Climate Change. We have also grasped the imperative need globally to stop the destruction of the green cover of our planet, and to increase it at all costs. That is where we too have a small part to play.
The Intangki National Park, a reserved forest, is a sacred gift of our elders for the well being of all Nagas, India and the world. TPO regards it as our privileged responsibilities to rally all Nagas to ensure that the integrity of the eco-system nurtured within the forest is preserved without encroachment of any kind being allowed to degrade it further. It is a small but important part of the larger “Lung of Mankind”.
Therefore, your Excellency, we earnestly request your understanding of our determined attempt being made and your intervention so that the National Park may be saved before it is too late. We are clear, a National Property such as this Park becoming the private properties of individuals is out of the question.
I remain,
Yours faithfully,
(Z. M. SEKHOSE)
President,
Tenyimi People’s Organization.
Nagaland, Manipur & Assam States.
