Date | Nov 20, 2017:

Environment, Forest & Climate Change department will take immediate steps to move for amendments to the Nagaland Forest Act, 1968 and the proposed amendments will be placed before the Nagaland Legislative Assembly during its Winter Session this year.

According to a press release issued by Geology & Mining director, Wanthang Rengma, forest produce listed as minerals, minor minerals and rocks (including lime stone, laterite, mineral oils and all produce of mines and quarries) in the Act would be removed.

He said a joint meeting of Geology & Mining and Environment, Forest & Climate Change departments held at Kohima on October 28 under the chairmanship of chief minister, T.R. Zeliang had decided to entrust Geology & Mining department as the administrative authority for management of mineral concession and development in the State.

The meeting said minerals listed in First Schedule of the Nagaland (Ownership and Transfer of Land and its Resources) Act, 1990 (NOTLAR Act) and Schedule-I of NMMCR 2004, including sand, gravel and boulders, fell under the prerogative of Geology & Mining department and that it would continue to implement the NMMCR 2004 by granting licence/permit, levy royalty, monitor and regulate mines/quarries etc.

Rengma said pursuant to the decision, department of Environment, Forest & Climate Change would take immediate steps to move for amendments to the Nagaland Forest Act, 1968

Further, the statement also expressed its gratitude to Zeliang under whose chairmanship a clear cut decision in line with Article 371A of the Indian Constitution and the NOTLAR Act, 1990 and the NMMCR 2004 and Rules of Executive Business was taken. The department also thanked Chief Secretary Pankaj Kumar for his co-operation.

“Henceforth, the department of Geology and Mining will regulate, control and monitor all minerals including coal, petroleum and natural gas in the State and will continue granting mining permit, levy tax/royalty on all minerals within the State. Any other agency collecting royalty on minerals will be treated as illegal and it will attract legal action as per the provisions of law,” Rengma stated.

(Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/)