Order on Zeliad wildlife sanctuary condemned
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 17 2023:
Observing that declaration of Zeilad as a wildlife sanctuary will displace thousands of people settling in the region, Zeilad Wildlife Sanctuary Affected Villages (ZWSAV) condemned the issuance of notification by Tamenglong DC without prior information to the community and affected villages along with demanding revocation of the notification.
In a release, ZWSAV informed that ah emergency meeting was held on October 16 at Tamenglong HQ concerning the latest notification issued by the Tamenglong DC regarding the settlement of rights of Zeilad Wildlife Sanctuary and attended by chairman, secretaries and youth from all affected villages.
Recalling that a round table conference was held on July 3, 2023 at DC's office wherein it was agreed that the DC would forward to the higher authority that majority of the people in the area oppose declaration of the Zeilad Wildlife Sanctuary.
Despite the assurance, the DC issued further notification without the knowledge of the community.
Further, the committee reiterated that there are multiple procedural lapses prior to the notification for declaring Zeilad Wildlife Sanctuary.
Urging vested interest individuals who work with the government for declaration of Zeilad Wildlife Sanctuary to withdraw all the documents related to Zeilad Wildlife Sanctuary at the earliest in the interest of the Naga community, it cautioned that the committee will not be responsible if any untoward incident happens to anyone.
Further, it is pertinent to mention that UNC, RNCM, RNYOM, RNSOM, RNLPM and other CSOs have been strongly condemning the tenacious and crafty act of the state government in declaring wild life sanctuary and other reserved and protected forest without the consent of people in Naga inhabited area, the release added.