Nagaland says it is examining Assam's mining allegations, urging cooperation over blame as monsoon disasters batter both neighbouring states.
KOHIMA — Nagaland government on Wednesday said it was taking Assam's concerns over the alleged link between mining activities in the state and flooding downstream seriously, even as Minister for Tourism and Higher Education Temjen Imna Along urged both neighbouring states to work together instead of blaming each other for natural disasters.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event in Kohima, Along said Nagaland government, led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, was examining the matter and expressed confidence that it would also come up for discussion at the state Cabinet meeting in Wokha on Thursday.
"Both Assam and Nagaland are suffering from unprecedented natural calamities. This is not the time to blame each other but to work together to address the challenges," he said.
Along added that Nagaland too had witnessed extensive destruction from landslides, swollen rivers and collapsed bridges, resulting in loss of lives, damage to homes and disruption of livelihoods.
Responding to a question on the Konyak Union's rejoinder to allegations made by an Assam minister over mining activities in Mon district, Along said elected representatives in Nagaland were committed to acting responsibly and avoiding statements that could inflame public sentiment.
"Our responsibility is to ease the suffering of the people, not engage in a blame game. We hope leaders in Assam will also adopt the same approach," he said.
Along also expressed solidarity with flood-affected people in Assam, saying Nagaland prayed for their well-being while hoping for similar concern for communities affected by disasters in Nagaland.
On whether the government would intensify action against deforestation, Along said Nagaland remained committed to afforestation and environmental conservation.
He said the Forest and Environment department continued to undertake plantation drives and forest conservation initiatives across the state, adding that commercial logging remained largely prohibited, with communities using timber mainly for domestic and livelihood purposes.
The minister said the government would continue pursuing afforestation and conservation measures with the goal of making Nagaland a climate-resilient, environmentally sustainable and biodiversity-rich state.