District administration of Peren has accepted the demand of the Nagaland Timber Traders’ Union (NTTU) to allow timber operation in Peren till May 31 with a condition that the timber contractors should carry out road repairs in the district immediately.
A press statement received here, stated that the decision was taken at the tripartite meeting between civil societies, timber contractors and members of DP&DB at Peren DPDB meeting at DC Complex, New Peren Hq on Sunday that was chaired by DAN chairman T.R. Zeliang.
Around 45 trucks at Athibung-Khelma area and eight at Peren-Mpai area reportedly stranded due to DC Peren prohibitory order were allowed to pass after timber contractors agreed to take up repairing works of the road within seven days.
It was also decided that in the event, the timber contractors failed to keep their assurance, the district administration would convene special DP&DB meeting to initiate action. Addressing the meeting, Zeliang, who is also the chairman of DP&DB, Peren said, “compromise is possible only when we create the space to understand each other” while maintaining that “genuine grievances of the public” must be taken into consideration in all circumstances.
He also highlighted on the importance of Green cover sustainability, stating that “Green Coverage is being reduced because of rampant logging whereas our target must be on maintaining ecological balance, allowing people to live with sufficient water and fresh air for a healthy life.”
Zeliang further called upon the Peren forest department to keep vigil on illegal timber business taking place in Peren. He also asked the department to identify illegal timbers coming from Manipur, Assam and Ntangki National Park via Peren district. He said out of the 11 districts in the State, Peren district topped the chart in timber business. Zeliang said every year, six months period have been opened for vehicles carrying timbers to ply across Peren district. However, he regretted that the “contractors could not make use of the allotted time period and had instead opted for confrontation with the authorities and the public.” In this regard, he said that government understand the hardship faced by the timber contractors from an “economic point of view” due to the recent bandh”, however maintained that one had to “compare individual problems with public problems in such situations”.
On May 5, NTTU had called for an indefinite blockade on movement of vehicles in Peren district commencing on May 8, if the authorities failed to revoke January 11 notification which prohibited movements of trucks carrying timber in Peren district after April 30.
Organisations such as Zeliangrong Baudi, Zeliang Kuki Public Organisation, Peren Town Youth organisation have expressed strong resentment on logging in Peren district which they viewed, had minimised the lifespan of newly constructed roads and had damaged several stretch of roads in interior parts of the district rendering unmotorable in areas like Nsong, Ngam, Athibung, Khelma and Ikiesingram etc.
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