Through this release, the Zeliangrong Baudi appreciates the initiatives and tireless efforts of DAN Government in preserving and protecting Ntangki National Park where consecutive State Governments had failed to address the rampant encroachment and destruction of the National Park.
Looking back into history, in the year 1921 when India was under the British Rule, J.H Hutton, the then DC of Kohima proposed to create a Reserve Forest in the Ntangki Valley. He requested the traditional residents of Old Beisumpui Village belonging to the Zeliang Tribe in Peren District, to donate Land to which they agreed. The DC’s Office acquired the land in return for a receipt that entitled the residents to a Muzzle-loading Gun, two Blankets, two bags of Rice and Rs. 10.
In 1923 Ntangki, measuring 20,202 hectares was notified a Reserve Forest which in 1975 was later notified a Wildlife Sanctuary. On 3rd March 1993, the State Government declared it to what we call today, the Ntangki National Park.What is supposed to be a ‘National Park’ is ridden with rampant encroachments, poaching and illegal Logging which goes on unabated leading to tribal unrest. Despite Government’s Eviction Orders, Encroachers have always found their way back to the National Park in larger numbers whose Petitions before the Honourable Courts are ironically, entertained by and large. The Zeliangrong people had been, and are still, adopting a peaceful approach against numerous attempts of Land dominations and encroachments which have made the common men tense and uneasy. The persistent torture, killing and plundering of properties have no doubt, compelled some section of the Society to resort to counter-attacks. But at large, the Zeliangrong people’s long cherished dream is, either the Government solves the Ntangki Imbroglio at the earliest or the same be returned back to the Zeliangrong people, who would protect their homeland at any cost. For nine decades, the Zeliangrong people had undergone pain and sufferings caught in this ever-growing appalling situation left with no more options but to initiate befitting action against Encroachers, Poachers and Illegal Loggers who had made the lives of the Zeliangrong people a living nightmare.
One clear example is, Inavi Village also known as United Naga Village who in 2009 filed a Petition at the Kohima Bench of the Gauhati High Court challenging the State Government over the ownership of the Forestland they occupied. Taking recourse to the Forest Rights Act of 2006, the group claimed they should be granted land titles for the Forest patch because they have lived there since 1995, much before the Law came into force. To this, the Nagaland Government argued that since the Petitioners have settled in a National Park, they should be considered “Encroachers”. The Court rejected the Petitioner’s claim stating that “Encroachers” cannot take recourse to the Forest Rights Law as they are not the original inhabitants of the Ntangki National Park.
In October the same year, the Petitioners filed an Appeal, responding to which the Court had ordered Status Quo until last year, when the Gauhati High Court had passed an order that if the Villagers failed to voluntarily vacate the area occupied by them inside the National Park and hand it over to the State of Nagaland within December 31st 2011, they would pay a penalty of Rs. 5 lakhs per hectare per month to the State of Nagaland.
Now following the latest development, Inavi village has given its assurance to the Supreme Court that they would not re-enter Ntangki National Park and in view of their statement, the state of Nagaland shall not enforce the order of the Court for recovery of the compensation from the petitioners of Rs. 5 lakhs per hectare per month to the State of Nagaland passed earlier last year by the Gauhati High Court.
The assurance of Inavi Village before the Hon’ble Supreme Court is praise-worthy and ZB sends its heartfelt greetings to the villagers for their wise, matured and timely decision.
All along, despite its shortcomings the State Government took great effort in making all this work in a better way.DAN Government facilitated the scaling up of a peaceful environment for massive numbers of people, groups and organisations involved in the Ntangki imbroglio, helping them understand the need for peace and understanding to build healthier Communities.
We salute DAN Government for not only raising Zeliangrong Baudi’s profile but for its persistent efforts in settling the Ntangki Imbroglio which had snowballed into a major problem untill now.
Azeu Namcyn Hau
General Secretary
