Compassionately dealing with suspected forest encroachers
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: May 23, 2022 -
IT could be safely stated that the show-cause notice served by Divisional Forest Officer of Bishnupur forest division to chiefs of 10 villages; which are within the Tairenpokpi-Tamenglong protected forest area on official record, directing to submit relevant documents to prove their ownership of the villages would be either fiercely opposed by the settlers or intervened by the political class.
Both objection by the village chiefs and interference by politicians, the elected people's representatives in particular, to delay relevant procedures, are also quite possible for neither the villages would be willing to relocate from their present place of settlement nor the politicians relish the prospect of backlash from the villagers.
Moreover, the notice served on May 18 to chiefs of Kotlen, S Laijang, Longa Koireng, Phoijang, Thanglongbung, Bijang, Lonjang, Namthanjang, Aithu and Lhongchin villages is certain to grab the attention and trigger debate on the social media platforms with those opposed to the notification interpreting it as infringement on rights of the tribal people.
Interestingly, the notice categorically specified that the said villages are situated inside Tairenpokpi-Tamenglong Protected Forest but still perceived it appropriate to ask the village chiefs to submit relevant documents in support of their claim of ownership within a week's time.
Like it or not, it's an undeniable fact that encroachment on government lands (khasland) in the valley and expansion of villages in the hills are not recent phenomenon as it is evident from government authorities periodically conducting eviction drives with some such activities put on hold after the perceived encroachers were found in possession of land documents allotted by the revenue department.
The growth of human settlements is often seen as economic development.
But for some who are living in areas classified as forest land or on the edge of wildlife sanctuaries, this development can come at a high cost for deadly conflict is imminent sooner than later between the growing masses and its wildlife, confined to ever-shrinking forests and grasslands, not to speak of possible clashes with government authorities.
In fact, conflict already seems to have begun if one goes by recent reports of attack on poultry birds and discovery of half-eaten or mutilated carcasses of cattle.
Thus, it is time that all the stake-holders such as local people, forest and revenue department and the policy makers come together to the drawing board, understand the problem and arrive at a permanent solution to this perennial problem.
It needs no reminding that dwellers close to forest areas contribute directly to the depletion of the forest resources by collecting firewood and aiding timber traders.
As the options left to protect the forest are limited, the government shall have to win over the hill dwellers in carrying out proper demarcation of the village area, make free reserved forests from all human occupation and pay suitable compensation to the displaced families.
The afforestation plan should not end with plantation of tree saplings but also incorporate convenient access to LPG supply to avoid dependence on firewood for cooking.
If all the preventive and assistive measures could be discussed and implemented in complete harmony among the stake holders concerned, then there is strong possibility that the public-government conflict could be brought down drastically.
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