The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the Union Environment Ministry has granted post-facto approval for the establishment of a Commando Battalion Camp in Assam’s protected forest areas, amidst controversy over unauthorized constructions and territorial disputes with Nagaland.
In its December 26, 2024, meeting, the FAC approved the diversion of 26.1 hectares of land in the Geleky Reserve Forest, located along the volatile Assam-Nagaland border in Sivasagar District, and 11.5 hectares in the Hailakandi Reserve Forest. These approvals, granted for non-forestry use, are accompanied by penalties for violations of forest conservation laws.
It may be noted that in September 2024, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) had granted in-principle approval for the diversion of 28 hectares of reserve forest for the establishment of the battalion in Geleky Reserve Forest.
The Geleky camp is reportedly being set up to counter “encroachment attempts by miscreants from Nagaland,” according to reports. However, the Ao Senden, the apex Ao Naga body, has strongly refuted this narrative, asserting that the land belongs to Kangtsüng village in Nagaland’s Mokokchung District. They described the move as “rubbing salt into our wound,” accusing Assam of encroaching on Ao Naga ancestral land.
On September 2024, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has granted in-principle approval for the diversion of 28 hectares of reserve forest for the establishment of the battalion at the Assam-Nagaland interstate border in the Geleky reserve forest of Sivasagar District.
Reacting to this, the Ao Senden has called on Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to intervene and halt construction at Septsuyong Lu, Kangtsüng village. In response, Nagaland’s Minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs, KG Kenye, announced that the state government would address the issue by communicating with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Environment and Forests. A physical verification of the area, led by a senior official, has also been planned.
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