Mokokchung, August 22 (MExN): The All Ward Union Mokokchung Town (AWUMT) has stated that the recent Public Notice issued by the Chairman, Central Ground Water Authority, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India is “in total contravention of traditional Naga customary procedures, social practices and ownership of land and its resources, and that it directly infringes upon the constitutional provisions of Article 371 (A) that safeguards the Naga way of life.”
As such, it demanded the Government of Nagaland to declare the order unconstitutional and, therefore, null and void.
In a press release on Monday, the AWUMT stated that it has been the longstanding demand of the Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF), Association of Kohima Municipal Wards Panchayat (AKMWP), AWUMT, and Naga civil society organizations to review and amend the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 by deleting various sections of the Act that infringes upon the constitutional rights of the Naga people as enshrined in Article 371(A).
“At this instance, AWUMT would like to point out that Sections 215 - 220 of the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 pertaining to tube wells, wells, springs and other water-course infringes upon Article 371 (A) of the Constitution,” it pointed out.
Meanwhile, it also directed all the residents of Mokokchung Town “not to honor the Public Notice issued by the Central Ground Water Authority as it is against Article 371 (A) of the Constitution.”
Mention may be made that the CGWA, under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, issued a public notice dated April 10, 2022, stating that all groundwater users must obtain its permission for groundwater withdrawal by June 30, 2022.
All existing users were given a one-time opportunity to register for groundwater withdrawal by paying a registration fee of Rs 10,000, and were warned that strict action would be taken against those who continue to withdraw groundwater without a No Objection Certificate from the CGWA.
