State government has decided to appeal to the Centre to exclude Nagaland from the purview of the Protected Area Permit (PAP), a minister said on Tuesday.
During a cabinet meeting held in the chief minister’s residential complex here on Monday, the decision was taken to request the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to revoke the PAP regime in Nagaland, state Environment Minister C L John told PTI.
A foreigner is required to obtain a Protected Area Permit to visit certain areas of India, including parts of the northeastern region.
“During the cabinet meeting, a thorough deliberation was made over the PAP regime. The council of ministers observed that the state peacefully celebrated the Hornbill festival from December 1 to 10 last year with more than 2,000 foreigners attending the event. The cabinet decided to appeal to the Centre to revoke the PAP system in Nagaland,” the state minister said.
Altogether 2,05,968 visitors, including 2,527 foreigners, thronged Naga heritage village Kisama, the venue for the Hornbill festival, around 12 kms south of the state capital.
The Protected Area Permit, which had been in place for foreigners since the 1960s as a security measure due to the region’s sensitive nature and geopolitical concerns, was revoked in December 2021.
This gave foreigners easier access to Nagaland and other northeastern states without the need for such permits.
After three years of revocation, the MHA reimposed the PAP regime in Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram in December last year amid growing security concerns arising from the influx from neighbouring countries.
Manipur government had said with the reimposition of PAP, the movement of foreigners visiting the state will be closely monitored.
However, Mizoram’s ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) has urged the Centre to review its decision to reimpose the PAP regime, citing concerns that it would hinder foreign tourists from visiting the northeastern state.
The permit normally has a duration of 10 days which can be extended. The Union Home Ministry and authorities of the states concerned can issue the Protected Area Permits.