Mokokchung, 3 November (MTNews): The Nagaland Forest Department is in the process of introducing a new state law focusing on Forest Conservation. The Commissioner & Secretary for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, Kikheto Sema, has revealed that while the state does not entirely oppose the Forest Amendment Conservation Act 2023 passed by the Parliament, the state of Nagaland will have its own forest law as the landholding system is different.
According to Sema, the Act passed at the national level does not impact private lands. However, as per an AIR news, Sema viewed that any development taking place either in the government or private lands should have a provision to get allowances from the user department or agencies to pay to the government so as to maintain an ecosystem and increase ecological services.
Dharmendra Prakash, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force (HoFF) for Nagaland, shared that the department is actively working on finalizing a compensation mechanism to be integrated into the draft rule. This initiative aligns with the resolution passed by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. A draft committee, to be led by PCCF & HoFF Dharmendra Prakash at the departmental level, will oversee the development of the draft legislation. The proposed draft will subsequently undergo a thorough examination at the government level before final recommendations are made.