Forest Department lost control of Intangki National Park, says SCAN

Says state govt complicit in allowing NSCN (IM) to take over 

Morung Express News 
Kohima | October 19

The Senior Citizens’ Association of Nagaland (SCAN) has alleged that the establishment of Forest Department within the Intangki National Park has been taken over and was under complete control of the NSCN (IM). The association members revealed this to media persons in Kohima today during a press conference in the backdrop of a ‘vague evasive’ RTI response and in consequence to a hearing in the Court of the State Chief Information Commissioner held with representatives of the Forest Department and the SCAN earlier on September 7, 2022. 

The SCAN said that it had first taken up the matter in mid-2019, feeling the need to take up the responsibility in the wake of ‘serious rumours’ that the “managerial establishment of the Forest Department in the Intangki National Park including the staff quarters of the Forest Department had been taken over and was under complete control of NSCN (IM).” 

The Association stated that the department was apparently helpless “in not being able to stop the NSCN (IM) cadre from their activities” within the Park. 

Accordingly, it filed an RTI on September 14, 2020 to the Public Information Officer (PIO), Interlocutor and Governor’s Secretariat, Raj Bhavan, Government of Nagaland, Kohima. The RTI was redirected to Chief Secretary Nagaland, and further forwarded to PIO Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department, it said. 

The Members said that on October 12, 2020, Director, Intangki National Park furnished a ‘vague evasive’ reply to the RTI questionnaires. SCAN said, the Office of the Chief Information Commissioner took the initiative by bringing the Forest Department and SCAN for a face to face hearing on September 7, 2022 to review the issue.

As per the SCAN, during the hearing, the Forest Department on being questioned by the Court, confirmed that the ‘NSCN (IM) has taken over the full control of the Forest Department’s Intangki establishment.’ In the RTI, the answer officially provided by the Director, Intangki National Park who is also the PIO in this case, was that, “No such vacation order to the Intangki Reserved Forest Staff was received,” it said.

 “The PIO stated that the above developments mentioned by the applicants (now complainants) happened without the knowledge of the Forest Department and the matter was intimated to the Government, however, after the Ceasefire between the NSCN (IM) and the Govt of India, it became apparent that the Govt had some plan which is unknown,” the SCAN said, quoting the NIC Court’s order. 

On other queries pertaining to records of directives, vacation notices, orders and other such documents issued by the State government, “the PIO stated that, as he was told, the Department was instructed about the plan of the Government to convert the forest colony (Intangki National Park) and hence, the Department could not do anything or have any say when the Government had directed the Department,” it added. 

The SCAN said that the Department volunteered an explanation in the Court of Nagaland Information Commission that after the Cease-Fire with the GOI, NSCN (IM) had begun their persistent harassment and threats towards all the Forest Department personnel posted within Intangki National Park resulting in all the staffs vacating their quarters one after another in fear.

While the Association had also sought photocopies of the orders, directive, resolution of the State Government reallocating the staff quarters constructed for the employees of the Forest Department or Forest Guards to the new occupants, “a faction of Naga Political Groups,” it said that the department responded that “No such orders, directives or resolutions of the State Government are available in the office record.”

In the September 7 hearing, the Department further clarified that after the vacation of their quarters by the staffs in fear, and “categorically affirmed that all the vacated quarters were later occupied by the NSCN (IM) and continues to be occupied to date.” 

Among others, the SCAN also underscored that no environmental clearance has been given to the present occupants of the Intangki Reserved Forest for clearing the jungle or any form of deforestation by the Government. On being questioned during the hearing, the Forest Department admitted that “they have lost all control over the Intangki Reserved Forest as of now to such an extent that even their Departmental Officers have to seek prior permission from the NSCN (IM) to enter into the Intangki National Park,” the SCAN stated.

It further accused the State Government of deliberately looking the other way without taking any positive steps to stop this act of atrocity by the NSCN (IM). 

“It is because of acts such as this that the people now believe that the forests and sound environmental existence, ecosystem of Nagaland State, the nation or of the world and the future of the people of Nagaland State are in great danger. Intangki National Park consists of a vast forests area of 202 square kilometers, blessed with rich mineral resources of all kinds above and beyond imagination, which shall not be encroached,” it added. 

It maintained that the State Government under the Chief Ministership of Neiphiu Rio, TR Zeliang and Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu has a lot to answer to the people of Nagaland for “collaborating and clandestinely allowing the NSCN (IM) to take over complete control of Intangki National Park even before the final solution is arrived at.” The Naga Political Issue should not be used for their petty Political Party survival at the cost of our children’s future, it asserted.

The SCAN charged the State Government of Nagaland under the present leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio “for complicity and compromising the interest of the people of Nagaland State by allowing the NSCN (IM) to take over the complete control of Intangki National Park.” 

During the press conference, SCAN President Dr Khanlo Magh; General Secretary Dr R Rose Chakhesang; Vice President Dr P Khala; Joint Secretary C Pankathang Lotha; Treasurer SP Francis; and Spokesperson KK Sema were present.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/forest-department-lost-control-of-intangki-national-park-says-scan