Centre’s eco-sensitive zone move opposed by Dorbar

JOWAI: The Dorbar Elaka, Elaka Narpuh in East Jaintia Hills has strongly opposed the proposal of the Central Government to declare Narpuh Reserve Forest as one of the designated Eco-Sensitive Zone in North East India.
According to the Elaka Dorbar Secretary, J Dhar, the proposal to declare Narpuh Reserve Forest as an Eco-Sensitive Zone will badly affect the local people whose livelihood depends on agriculture.
He also informed that forest officials including the Conservator of Forest (CF), District Forest Officer and the Range Officer visited the Elaka and held a meeting with the Rangbah Shnong where they were briefed on the details of the proposal of Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change. However, the Dorbar Elaka and Rangbah Shnongs have kept their stands to protest the proposal.
“We also have a copy of the resolution prepared by the forest department which is to be signed by the headman of Narpuh area, however, the Elaka Dorbar decided to return the same to the department without putting their signatures”, he added.   Earlier, in December last year, the Dolloi, Manbha Kyndoh along with the Elaka Secretary had submitted a letter to the Forest Department to register their protest and to oppose the proposal.
“The Elaka Dorbar has not been informed. No intimation was made by the concerned department to the Elaka Dorbar. We came to know about the move of the Central Government to declare Narpuh Forest as an Eco-sensitive Zone only from the headman”, a statement said.
The head of the Elaka also urged the forest department to abandon the idea of declaring Narpuh Reserve Forest as one of the Eco-Sensitive Zones.