DIMAPUR, September 5 (MExN): Timber farmers and dealers of Peren and Phek districts have extended their fullest support and solidarity to the demand of the Nagaland Timber Traders’ Union (NTTU) and Timber Traders’ Welfare Union for an end to “unfair manipulation” in allotment of wagons.
Peren District Timber Traders’ Union president N John Zeliang, in a press release stated that since timber, is the only product from Nagaland to be sold outside the state, the genuine timber farmers and beneficiaries should not be deprived of their due share of profit.
PDTTU, which has more than a hundred registered tree farmers, said that as per the directive of the central government through the state forest department, the tree farmers were registered after completing all formalities.
But even after obtaining all legal documents, the registered farmers have not been getting any wagon allotment for the past three years.
“This is sheer injustice and Peren district tree farmers and timber traders will suspend all forms of timber movement if the unfair manipulation in allotting wagons is not stopped,” PDTTU said.
In a separate press note, the Phek District Timber Association (PDTA) also said the all timber and related activities in Phek district would be forced to shut down if the state government does not act immediately to check the manipulation in allotment of wagons.
Reacting to allegations that some higher-ups in the Forest department and a minister were involved in selling wagons to some moneyed individuals, PDTA president Sanyi Dukru said that such a practice was by the higher ups was a shameful act and a blot to the government. “Depriving the hardworking tree farmers and timber traders of their quota is like stealing food from the plate of the poor farmers. They should be ashamed of such acts,” PDTA added.
The two timber unions also said that due to selling of wagons at high prices (Rs. 1.5 – 2 lakhs), the timber farmers cannot increase the price of timber, even though prices of all other items and goods have skyrocketed. Both PDTTU and PDTA stated that they would continue to fight along with NTTU till the government does justice to the timber community.
