A camp set up by timberleggers inside Intangki National Park.
Karaiba Chawang
Kohima | March 18
Even as the All Zeliangrong Students’ Union (Assam, Manipur and Nagaland) geared up for it’s dharna at Kohima tomorrow to express displeasure on the plight of Intangki National Park, reports of trouble dogging nature’s paradise are trickling in. As per exclusive pictures and first-hand witness obtained by The Morung Express Peren Correspondent, Intangki National Park, which is already under triple jeopardy from the State government’s negligence, undergrounds and ‘land mongers,’ appears to be again looming under another severe threat with casualty of wild animals due to ‘water poisoning’ being reported since last week. Villagers living near the park told the visiting correspondent that they had spotted several casualties of wild boars, stags and barking deers along the periphery of the National Park since last week. They also said that the dead animals did not bear any injury or bullet marks and as such water poisoning could be the probable cause of the casualty.
Villagers also disclosed that fishing in Intanki River with chemicals is common, which possibly caused the water poisoning. However, forest official said that they were ignorant about the death of animals inside the park. The exact number of the wildlife casualties inside Intangki also could not be confirmed.
On March 16, the Zeliangrong Students’ Union sent its members and undertook a spot-verification of the loggings and illegal encroachment. It was reported that rampant logging was still continuing unabated. There has been heavy felling of trees and camps have been set up by the laborers. About 100-150 settlements have already been established inside the park, said a student leader who was part of the team.
The Zeliangrong people, under the banner of All Zeliangrong Students’ Union (Assam, Manipur and Nagaland) and Zeliangrong Students’ Union Nagaland has called for a sit-in dharna on Monday in the state capital Kohima in front of the MLA hostel to register resentment over the State government’s failure to protect the park from illegal encroachers and loggers.
The students are demanding immediate eviction of all illegal settlements inside the park, and to stop all logging and other activities, which is posing severe threat to survival of the park, as well as eviction from Dhansaripar sub-division and Peren disrict, and to cease all process of recognizing these illegal villages.
Last Wednesday (March 14), the State Cabinet met at the CM’s official residence to take stock of the problem faced by the national park, and decided to instate security cover. However, the Cabinet did not spell out any operandi as how this decision will be implemented, stating that it will be worked out only after consulting the forest officials and security officials.
A source disclosed that the State government has already issued an eviction order, and the order is likely to take effect within few days time. Even as the Nagaland government takes its own time to protect the park reports said that illegal encroachers are ‘making a heyday’ inside the park. Some years back, the state government had issued a similar eviction order, but it did little to discourage illegal encroachment, logging and hunting.
It was only after the intervention of the undergrounds, the settlements could be evicted successfully. However, the latter are back inside the park since last year, source said.
This time, the Zeliangrong people, who are the traditional owners of the park, appeared to have taken the matter seriously, and is hell bent on protecting the park under any circumstances. A prominent leader said that they have given the ‘most fertile and copious’ land to the Nagaland government out of sheer generosity and trust, but if the latter fails to live upto its commitment, the people will be forced to take it back, it cautioned.
Morung Express News
(With inputs from Masangum at Jalukie)
