Peren, May 4 (MExN): The Peren District Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in no way had “tried to stop any legal timber extraction as per the law in force,” it clarified in a statement issued on May 3.
In the statement, the Peren CSOs further asserted that it would “never succumb to any pressure tactics” applied by those who have no qualms for the “livelihood of the rural villages with rampant deforestation just for their greed of money.”
The Peren CSOs also noted that it “restrained" itself from making any press statements for long hoping that the Nagaland Timber Trade union ( NTTU) would abide, and State Government, would also enforce the relevant laws in force for protection of forest and environment in the state and the country.
Instead, it accused the NTTU of “forcibly trying to harass the citizens of Peren District” by imposing economic blockade on May 2. It was lifted on May 3.
The CSOs also questioned the “Working Schemes in Peren District” often vaunted by the NTTU.
“The mentioned three Working Schemes exist only on paper because the respective Village Councils of Working Schemes areas have duly certified in writing that there is not a single tree left the on ground in demarcated Working Scheme areas left to be extracted,” it added.
It further maintained that same documents are in the hands of the Forest Department and other concerned authorities.
Accordingly, it asked the Forest Department to do “proper verification of spots/areas before any extension is given for any Working Scheme as per the guidelines of Working Plans.”
The State Forest Department as well as the Union Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change should also take note of “illegal Timber extraction” by the NTTU not only Peren but also in adjoining districts of Senapati and Tamenglong in Manipur as well as in Assam’s Dima Hasao District, it further alleged.
“The operating/sale agreements in respect to that are in the possession of CSOs,” it claimed.
It further clarified that the decision of CSOs to allow sawn timber out of the district for time being was on humanitarian ground and to ensure that no fresh cutting of trees are done, and not for motives as alleged by the NTTU.
The Department of Forest and Environment should ensure from now on that no illegal extraction whether round logs or sawn timber are allowed out of the District, it added.
