Dimapur, March 10 (MExN): A long standing boundary dispute between Nzauna Village and Lalong Village in Tening sub-division of Peren District has been amicably settled through the “collective initiative” of the Zeliangrong Baudi (ZB-Assam, Manipur & Nagaland) and Zeliangrong Baudi (ZB) Nagaland. This was informed in a press release from the general secretary of ZB (Nagaland).
Terming it the “longest land dispute”, the release explained that the Nsong Area Frontal Organisation (NAFO) had sent a “Good-will Mission” some years back to bring an amicable solution to the prevailing dispute between the two villages. NAFO’s “Good-will Mission” comprising of 10 (ten) members had approached both the villages to find ways for bringing peace and harmony between the villages. NAFO’s peaceful efforts largely contributed to the success of the ZB Joint Delegation in tackling the decades-old issue. Paving way for an “official Judgment Order”, last year an MoU was signed at Nsong Town Hall, appended by the ZB Joint Delegation on one hand and 5 (five) representatives each from the Village Councils of Nzauna and Lalong on the other, informed the press note.
On March 8, at Nsong, 23 Km South of Tening Zero Point, the “final verdict and decision” of the ZB Joint Delegation was delivered at Nsong Town Hall after a discussion within the ZB Executive Council based on collection of Political Case Records issued by Former Deputy Commissioners of Naga Hills, J.H. Hutton and C.R. Pawsey, who had termed the land dispute a ‘Political cases since the beginning of the 19th Century’. The Judgment Order passed by the ZB (AMN) and ZB (Nagaland) on the land dispute between Nzauna and Lalong Village states that “C.R Pawsey’s latest judgment stands valid for both parties wherein the boundary line will be Kisa Ngeuki till Kisa Hill-top.”
Meanwhile, the two hohos have appealed to the new Government to look into the road conditions which remain in the worst of conditions. “Even Nsong EAC post is lying vacant since last year and the Government must look into the issue without more delay,” the two hohos have appealed.
On the recent controversy of Ntangki Forest regarding Nagaland University (NU) setting Environmental Studies question no. 9 (for BA examination) on March 5, the ZB (Nagaland) has asked the University to “look into the matter” and has sought clarification at the earliest.
It may be cited here that on March 5, NU had set the question asking students where Ntangki Forest was located with 4 answer options namely Kohima, Dimapur, Phek and Wokha.
ZB (Nagaland) clarified that in the year 1921 when India was under British Rule, J.H. Hutton, then DC of Kohima had proposed to create a Reserve Forest in the Ntangki Valley. He requested the traditional residents of Old Beisumpui Village, who belong to the Zeliang Tribe in Peren District, to donate land for the same, to which they agreed. The DC’s office acquired the land in return for a receipt that entitled the residents to a muzzle-loading gun, two blankets, two bags of rice and Rs. 10. In 1923 Ntangki, measuring 20,202 hectares was notified a Reserve Forest which in 1975 was later notified a Wildlife Sanctuary.
On March 3, 1993, the State government declared it the Ntangki National Park in Peren District, the ZB (Nagaland) clarified.
