The Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) organized a seminar on “Environmental laws and the harmful impacts of pollution and environmental degradation” in collaboration with the Nagaland State Pollution Control Board at Japfü Hotel, Kohima on October 18.
According to a press release by PRA NSLSA, Neiko Akami, NJS, NSLSA Member Secretary delivered the keynote address where he urged for the need to conduct more programmes to raise awareness and sensitize the public, including various stakeholders, on the importance of protecting and conserving our forest environment and water resources from further degradation.
Highlighting the environmental challenges currently facing the region, Akami noted that the state has experienced heatwaves, floods, soil erosion, landslides, air pollution, and water shortages. He also pointed out that major developmental projects, such as the expansion of roads from two to four lanes, have led to significant deforestation and the destruction of the region’s rich flora and fauna.
“To have good road is to boost economy and comfort travelling but due to massive soil cutting our rivers are flooded with dirt, soil erosion has affected the cultivated paddy crops and other agri-allied products, many irrigation lane are destroyed causing decreased of food productivity without any doubt there was so much destruction of trees and plants, our rivers stones were been exploited and had experience the shortage of fishes in rivers, less rainfall and perhaps more heatwave when our forest were destroyed at large due to road construction and other nature resources exploitation in the land,” stated Akami.
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In this regard, Akami highlighted the need to sensitize the government to frame policy to adopt massive tree plantation and create mass sensitization. The member secretary also expressed the need to sensitize any form of air pollution, water pollution, jungle burning and exploitation of the forest and natural resources.
Apart from that, he opined that it was necessary to organize tree plantation by every village in the state through active state support and to sensitize to preserve wild life sanctuary and implement the Wild Life (Protection) Act affectively in our land.
During the technical session, resource person Sidramappa Chalkapure, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests, Kohima Nagaland spoke on Legal Framework for Conservation of Forests, Wildlife and Environment and highlighted acts and rules relevant to the state. Akangmeren Imchen, Scientist ‘C’, Nagaland Pollution Control Board spoke on the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 and the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act 1974. Yanthung Kithan, Scientist ‘B’, Nagaland Pollution Control Board dwelled on the Air (Prevention & Control of pollution) Act 1981 and Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.
Earlier, the programme was chaired by Nagali Shohe, Panel Lawyer, Kohima DLSA. The programme was attended by Panel lawyers and Para Legal Volunteers from various DLSAs.
