The Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution against the Forest (Conservation) Amendment (FCA) Act, 2023 on the last day of the second session of the 14th NLA.
The resolution moved by minister of environment, forest & climate change C.L. John stated that the 14th House of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly resolved to oppose the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act 2023 which would only be applicable to the State subject to the constitutional guarantees provided in Article 371(A) of the Constitution of India.
With this Nagaland and Mizoram– allies of the BJP, are the only states in the North East till date to pass a resolution against FCA. Reading out the resolution, CL John said that the Parliament of India had enacted the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023, which was notified by the Government of India on August 4, 2023.
It stated that most of the forest lands in Nagaland were owned by tribal communities and that during a consultative meeting with various stakeholders on the FCA convened by the state government on September 1, 2023, representatives of various Naga tribal hohos/organisations had expressed their strong objection to the application of Section 1(A)(2) of the Act in Nagaland. The opposition was on the ground that FCA was likely to infringe on traditional ownership and usage of forest lands and resources in the state.
The resolution pointed out that the House was of the view that the term “land and its resources” mentioned in Article 371(A) included forest land and resources and that the application of Section 1(A)(2) of the amended Act to Nagaland would jeopardise the existing rights of tribal communities over their forest lands and resources. It also noted that the House resolved that the Government of India must assure that provisions contained in Sec 1(A)(2) of the F(C)AA, 2023 should not be used to the detriment of the state and its people.
The resolution stated that the House had also resolved to explore various options, including the state enacting its own Act for the purpose of having its own compensatory mechanism wherein any diversion of even private or community-owned forest land for non-forestry purposes and damage to environment would be suitably compensated by the user agency, in addition to availing benefits from the existing schemes of the Central government in this regard.
NLA session adjourned sine die
Meanwhile, NLA speaker Sharingain Longkumer adjourned the second session of the 14th NLA sine die on Thursday. He expressed profound gratitude to all members for extending their cooperation during the session.