The Nagaland government has urged the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to revoke the re-imposition of the Protected Area Regime (PAR) or Protected Area Permit (PAP) in the state, citing a peaceful law and order situation and strong cultural ties in its border areas, The Wire reported.
In a letter addressed to the ministry, Nagaland Chief Secretary stated that the situation in the state’s border areas is “unlike that in the border areas of Mizoram and Manipur.” The letter highlighted the homogeneous tribal composition across the Myanmar-Nagaland border and the close familial, social, and matrimonial ties between communities on both sides.
“You are aware that the situation in the border areas of Nagaland is unlike that in the border areas of Mizoram and Manipur,” the letter read. “For one, the homogeneous tribal composition across the Myanmar and Nagaland borders differs from the heterogeneous tribal composition across the borders of Myanmar and Manipur and Myanmar and Mizoram.”
The Union Home Ministry had re-imposed PAP in Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram on December 7, 2023, citing security concerns over an influx of people from neighboring countries. The decision came more than a decade after PAP was lifted in these northeastern states in 2011 to encourage tourism.
According to The Wire, the Nagaland government described the state as “the most peaceful in the country in terms of law and order and safety of women,” asserting that a low crime rate has encouraged domestic and international tourism in recent years.
“To promote tourism and provide local employment opportunities the State Government with active support from Government of India has taken numerous initiatives, including investment in physical infrastructure. Thanks to these efforts, the recently concluded 253 year of the Hornbill Festival witnessed a record tourist inflow.”
The re-imposition of PAP, the government cautioned, could have an adverse impact on the state’s economy, which heavily relies on tourism. A cabinet meeting held on January 6 discussed the issue, and unanimously resolved to seek restoration of the previous PAP exemption.
“The Cabinet directed the undersigned to convey to the Government of India, that re-imposition of the Protected Area Regime in the State will adversely affect the tourist inflow into the State and have a negative impact on the State’s economy,” the letter said. “The Cabinet further decided that to ensure proper monitoring of foreign tourists into Nagaland, an effective mechanism for registration and tracking of foreigners visiting the State will be put in place by the State Government.”
Protected Area Permits are required for foreign nationals to visit certain sensitive regions of India. The permit, granted by the Ministry of Home Affairs and state authorities, is typically valid for 10 days and is subject to various security checks.
The Nagaland government also reiterated its earlier request for the restoration of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Indo-Myanmar border, allowing communities living in the border areas to maintain cross-border ties.
“With regard to the Free Movement Regime (FMR) in the Indo-Myanmar Border (IMB), the Cabinet reiterated its earlier decision to request the Central Government to restore the old FMR and also to frame appropriate regulations and lay down processes for movement of people across the border,” the letter noted.
Currently, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, and parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand are classified as protected areas, requiring foreign nationals to obtain special permits to visit.
(With inputs from The Wire)