NTTU says village student body's ban on timber ops uncalled for
DIMAPUR, JUNE 21 (MExN): The standoff between timber traders and civil society organisations in Peren, over alleged logging activities in the district, continues without closure. The Nagaland Timber Traders’ Union (NTTU) and its affiliates took “strong exception” to what it termed was “dictatorial statement of the Nkio Students’ Union (NSU)” recently notifying a “blanket ban” on logging operations in the latter’s land jurisdiction.
In a press release, the NTTU held that the NSU’s statement of June 19 was “uncalled for and provocative” at a time when the state government was yet to take a decision on “the issue between the timber traders and Peren CSOs.” The release was jointly issued by NTTU President Kevise Sogotsu; Dimapur District Timber Mill Owners’ Association President, Mughato; and Chümoukedima Timber Traders’ Association President, Khenito.
The NTTU further said that it has filed an FIR against the Peren CSOs in June for an alleged arson, which occurred on May 30. In the alleged arson, two trucks belonging to one NTTU member was reportedly set ablaze near Samzuiram-Athibung bridge. In this regard, it demanded the arrest of the culprits within a week “from the date of issue of this press release.”
The release also included two other one-week deadlines. It demanded the shutting of all saw mills operating without valid licence in the Jalukie valley and the Peren CSOs refunding the money invested by timber traders within one week.
As per the NTTU, timber traders have already made big monetary investments for logging operations. If the CSOs do not give sufficient time to wind up operations, the CSOs should pay back all the money invested, it said.
On one hand, the CSOs have banned logging, on the other, it claimed that it was individual land owners/villagers of Peren, who have offered their forest resource to timber traders to buy. It said, “Since the land and resources belong to the people or villagers as per Article 371 (A), the timber contractors agreed to buy the areas and trees.” While stating that it was “compelled to give a counter,” the NTTU said that if the demands are not met in the stipulated period, it would resort to blockading routes to Peren.
