Dimapur, December 16 (MExN): A joint meeting of the Nagaland Timber Traders’ Union (NTTU) and its affiliated units on December 15 has resolved that the ‘ban imposed on movement of unprocessed timber’ from Peren district to outside by Peren CSOs was unconstitutional and infringement of Article 371 (A) of the Indian Constitution.
The meeting, among others, was attended by Chümoukedima Timber Traders’ Association (CTTA) and Dimapur District Timber Mill Owners’ Association.
The meeting resolved that the ban imposed by Peren Civil Society Organisations (PSOs) “is unconstitutional and infringement of Article 371 (A) which clearly stated that “ownership and transfer of land and its resources” solely lies with the people or individual owners of land,” a press release from the NTTU informed.
Substantiating the same, the NTTU stated that timber contractors operating in Peren district have entered into contract and signed legal agreements with 50 land/forest owners from different villages.
“As per the agreements, which can be validated in any legal court, the timber contractors have every right to operate till expiry of the agreement,” stated the release issued by NTTU President Kevise Sogotsu.
Accordingly, 27 villages under Peren district had also asserted that “the material forest products sold out to the contractors with an agreement made for the operation of log/timber under certain condition and period cannot be banned by any individual or groups as contractors have every right to operate until validity period is over,” it pointed out.
To this end, the NTTU asserted that the timber traders would never bow down to the 'dictates of the Peren CSOs and the term and conditions laid down by them.'
Besides, NTTU and its affiliated units iterated that local timber farmer and contractors in Peren district who are operating in their “own land/forest have every right to continue with their trade without any interference,” it maintained.
Meanwhile, the Union informed it submitted a representation to the Deputy Commissioner Peren on December 6 and had served a deadline that in the event of the Peren CSOs sticking to ‘ban,” the latter should “pay back the invested amount of Rs. 6, 67, 55,709 together with interest @ 12% per annum to the timber traders within 15 (fifteen) days from the date of submission of the representation.”
“If the Peren CSOs consent to refund the invested amount, then NTTU and its units are ready to quit timber operation in Peren district,” it added.
