DIMAPUR, MAY 5 (MExN): The Nkio Students’ Union (NSU) has cautioned all “illegal timber operators” under its jurisdiction to stop further extraction of timber, and exploitation of natural vegetation and forest cover. This comes in compliance with the Civil Society Organisations’ (CSOs) decision to prohibit the illegal timber operations in Peren district, informed a press release from the NSU media cell.
It noted that the Nagaland Forest Department has approved a working scheme for timber operation with an extension only to the following three village councils under Peren district, viz, New Ngaulong (20-21 to 24-25), Lalong village (2020-21 to 22-23), and Paikolom (2017,2018,2021-2022). “There is no existing working scheme under Nkio jurisdiction, ergo all the tree extraction that is being conducted unabated under Nkio must be discontinued promptly,” the NSU stated.
The union informed that timber extraction is being done in Nkio “under the cover of tree farms to cloak the illegal extraction of forest trees.”
Moreover, the NSU said that “spider-web like roads are being constructed in the deep forests which serve no purpose for public utility but to gravitate the destruction of irreplaceable natural vegetation.” Such indiscriminate destruction of forests and rampant illegal activities showcased in the public clearly indicates the “hyper-negligence” of the Forest Department in executing their responsible duty, the union said. It questioned what the Forest Department is doing when such illegal activities are being carried out under their nose.
“Isn’t the duty of the department to inspect the site and take appropriate action? Or the department is just expecting the public to carry out their responsible duty on behalf of them, or the department is also bribed by those contractors,” the NSU questioned.
It said that the “incessant destruction of invaluable forest cover in our jurisdiction is unendurable and would not be allowed to carry on any longer.” The union further cautioned the owner of the sawing mill “that is illegally established at Nkio under the cover of a tree farm and indiscriminately sawing forest trees” to stop operation immediately.
Every illegitimate extraction of timber within Nkio jurisdiction without legal extension order of working scheme issued by the Government of Nagaland shall be strictly prohibited from now forward, the NSU said. It informed that the union will be inspecting every site of operation and will act as per the Forest Protection Act and will resort to punitive actions against the defaulters.
