Independent legislator Kevipodi Sophie called for attention of the house on matters of urgent public importance pertaining to the dispute of traditional land at Kezoltsa. The MLA from 14-Southern Angami-1 constituency, highlighted the illegal occupation, extraction and looting of timbers, construction of roads and electrification in the disputed area and the establishment of security outposts and imposition of CrPC 144 by the Manipur government. Rest houses which were built by the Southern Angami Public Organisation to protect the rich biodiversity of Kezoltsa was demolished by the Maos of Manipur which endangers the forest conservation efforts, he added.
He emphasized that, in violation of a Memorandum from April 23, 2015, the Manipur government, backed by the Mao Council, unlawfully encroached upon and forcibly occupied Kezoltsa. He said they deployed armed forces, engaged in extensive permanent development projects, and illicitly extracted timber, looting all resources within Kezoltsa. This area, belonging to the Southern Angami traditional territory, has been preserved and protected by ancestors since ancient times.
He said that after the Dzükou inferno on December 29, 2020, the Mao Council, in collaboration with the Manipur government and security forces, exploited the situation under the guise of firefighting. They forcefully occupied the area and, taking advantage of the circumstances, constructed roads, implemented electrification, and established a permanent Security Station, invoking CrPC 144, Sophie added.
He noted that on March 13, 2021, the TPO and Board of Arbitrators (BOA) met Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh and apprised him of the prevailing situation at Kezoltsa and that the latter immediately directed his minister L. Dikho to immediately cease work and to withdraw all security personnel so as to allow TPO and BOA to adjudicate the matter on customary laws and practices.
Narrating the sequence of the incidents, he stated that Nagaland chief minister had appealed to his counterpart in Manipur through an official communiqué dated January 8, 2021 to resolve the issue through amicable dialog under Tenyimi customary law and to identify the genuine landowners, but there has been no response from the Manipur state government till date.
He urged the members of the house to peruse the letter of Nagaland chief minister of Nagaland and also reaffirm the earlier findings of the three representatives of the state government.
He also urged the government authority to immediately intervene to protect the Kezoltsa from exploitation and to preserve Kezoltsa area as an eco-biodiversity zone by deploying State government agencies concerned with protecting the forest lands and to assist and to provide resources to the traditional owners concerned with the preservation and protection of Kezoltsa.
In response to the calling attention of Sophie, deputy CM, in-charge of home and border affairs Y Patton appreciated the raising of important issue concerning the people and the state. He said that traditional boundary that has been in existence for several generation stands above any political boundary that followed. He highlighted that land belongs to the people and not the government. The resolution of the dispute therefore, should be based on Naga customary laws and practices and called for cooperative efforts by all the stakeholders.