Tenyimi Peoples’ Organization (TPO) asks government to evict Intangki encroachers

Tenyimi Peoples’ Organization (TPO) has sought eviction of encroachers at Intangki National Park at the same time realization of compensation of Rs.67.5 crore from encroachers as per Court order.

In a representation to state chief secretary, the TPO president Keku Zeliang and general secretary Benjamin Lorin demanded immediate action against illegal encroachers of Intangki Wildlife Sanctuary and Intangki National Park.

The TPO reminded the government that Court had clearly spelt out that state government was fully entitled to evict encroachers from sanctuary and park, and to ensure that encroachments were prevented.

Pointing out that Court also directed encroachers to pay Rs. 5 lakh per hectare per month to government if they continued to remain after Dec 31, 2011, the TPO said encroachers remained in the area of about 900 hectare for over one and a half months (Jan 1 2012 to Feb 15, 2012) and hence were liable to pay Rs.67.5 crore.

Expressing concern that encroachers not only continued to remain inside the park, but even went ahead to construct more huts without being stopped, TPO accused the state government of having literally done nothing to impose the penalty or to evict them as per Court’s Order.

The signatories lamented that government had been sleeping over the matter and cautioned that TPO would not hesitate to hold the government responsible and answerable to the people of Nagaland, even to the extent of being charged for contempt of Court.

In the light of the above, TPO urged state government act immediately by way of first ascertaining the actual area of land still under occupation and to realize the compensation from them and concurrently evict them.

They cautioned that failure to act would compel TPO to take up all available “legal actions against the state government and all its responsible officials at its own costs and peril.”

Meanwhile, PTI reports said state forest department personnel Tuesday torched houses of illegal land encroachers at Hinoto village during an eviction drive at Intangki National Park, under Peren district. About three houses of illegal settlers were torched during the eviction drive at the park.