Dimapur, Aug. 16 (EMN): The Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has urged the government of Nagaland to summon a special Assembly session as soon as possible and pass a resolution against implementation of the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023 in the state as per the provision of Article 371A of the Indian Constitution.
Expressing concern over the passing of the contentious Act in the Lok Sabha on July 26, the NTC termed it as “sombre” on the land holding system provided to the people of Nagaland under Article 371A.
It pointed out that ‘the Act seeks to exempt land within 100 km of the country’s borders from the purview of conservation laws and permit setting up of zoos, safaris and eco-tourism facilities in forest areas’. This, it said, “covers the entire territorial jurisdiction of the present State of Nagaland, as if, the entire area is nobody’s land”.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]“If enforced it would completely deprive the rights of ownership and transfer of land and its resources of the native people which is against the provision of Article 371A of the Constitution of India.
The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023 is more of draconian and communist laws rather than the law of federalism,” read the press statement of the NTC.
Terming the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023 as “highly objectionable”, the council claimed that the land and forest of the state will be at the mercy of the Central government as it can take any forested land falling within the radius of 100 km without permission from the landowner and the Village Council.
It said the Act undermines “the right and privileges of its citizens under law with hidden agenda”, adding that it is very serious in nature and “unacceptable”.
Asserting that the recently passed bill is the amended version of the original Act passed in 1980,
the NTC said the citizens of the state should be informed if ‘any correspondence is made earlier and the ‘Applicability of Forest (Conservation) Act 1980’ from the state of Nagaland to the Central government and how serious the state is in regard to the protection of the constitutional provisions of Article 371A’.
It urged not to rewrite the history of Nagaland and its land holding system or tamper with it, to ensure that the future generations are not deprived of their rights and protection from exploitation provided by Article 371A.
Also read: Rengma Hoho opposes implementation of controversial Forest conservation act in Nagaland