Dy CM presents status report on Dzuko stand-off
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 29 2015 : Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam has stated that encroachment into Dzuko Valley by the Southern Angami People's Organisation (SAPO), diversion of Isiiphi river water and felling trees have stopped now.

Responding to a call attention motion raised by MLA Th Shyamkumar at the State Assembly today, Gaikhangam claimed that maximum efforts are being put in to resolve the issue through dialogue between officials of Manipur Government and their Nagaland counterparts.

A joint team of Senapati district administration comprising of Mao SDO, SDPO Mao, representatives of Mao Students' Union, the Committee for Koziirii and Mao Council went for a field inspection to Dzuko-Koziirii area on November 22 last year.

The team found encroachment from two directions.

The first went 6 Kms into Manipur's territory to the North West of Vise Kharu which is located at the border between Manipur and Nagaland.

The other went 4 Kms deep into the State's territory to the South of Vise Kharu.

File pic of the road leading to Dzuko valley built from the side of Nagaland

Isiiphi river was also blocked and its water was found diverted and this diversion had the potential to trigger serious ecological crisis in Dzuko Valley.

Taking serious note of this incursion, the Chief Secretary wrote to his Nagaland counterpart asking him to issue a directive in order to stop the activities of SAPO at Dzuko Valley.

The Chief Minister appealed to the Union Home Minister and the Prime Minister to intervene and the issue necessary directive to the Government of Nagaland.

The Chief Minister further appealed to the Prime Minister to send officials of the Union Home Ministry and office of the Director General, Survey of India in order to demarcate the boundary line between Manipur and Nagaland in Dzuko-Koziirii area.

He also wrote to his Nagaland counterpart in order to resolve the issue and restore normalcy in the border area.

However, the Nagaland Chief Minister informed that the matter has been entrusted to the Naga Hoho and the UNC for an amicable solution.

In case the Naga Hoho and the UNC fail to resolve the stand-off, Nagaland Government would take up necessary measures at the official level.

As the situation grew more tense, three vehicles belonging to Mao community were vandalized by SAPO members at Kohima on June 16 apart from serving quite notice to Mao people.

Again the Kohima Mao Council president was assaulted on June 24 in addition to vandalizing two shops run by Mao people at Kohima.

After these incidents, a bilateral meeting was organised between district level officials of the two States at Khuzama check post at the instruction of the State Cabinet.

In the meantime, the State Government deployed a company of 4th IRB at Mao Potato Farm area.

In order to check any more encroachment in Dzuko-Koziirii area, Senapati SP, SDPO Mao and the OC concerned have been visiting the area regularly.

The Senapati SP has also written to the Kohima SP to take up necessary actions when Mao people file any complaint at any of the police stations of Kohima district, Gaikhangam informed the House.

The bilateral meeting held at Khuzama agreed that the stand-off is not between the two States but between Mao Council and SAPO over traditional/ancestral land ownership.

Apart from confessing that the disputed site belongs to Manipur, the Nagaland officials assured that there would be no more encroachment from the side of Nagaland, claimed the Dy CM.

It further agreed to work collectively to bring a solution through dialogue between Mao community and Southern Angami people, Gai- khangam said.

Raising the call attention motion, Th Shyamkumar and Karam Shyam questioned the inaction of the State Government even when Mao people were thrashed and harassed at Kohima.

They asserted that the Sate Government would receive cooperation from all sections if the Government has the will to tackle the issue in a befitting manner.