NewzVille Desk
The Government of Nagaland has permitted the diversion of 3.93 hectares of forest land at the Nagaland Zoological Park under Rangapahar Reserve Forest in Chumoukedima district, for the construction of a 220 kilovolt transmission line from Dimapur to Zhadima.
The state government’s approval follows the final clearance granted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Regional Office Shillong, in August last year, after conditions laid down in the Stage-One approval were complied with.
The project will be implemented by the state Department of Power. As part of the conditions for the diversion, compensatory afforestation will be carried out over nearly 8 hectares of degraded forest land in Rangapahar Reserve Forest.
The user agency has also been directed to ensure protection of wildlife, minimise felling of trees, install bird deflectors along the transmission line, and comply with all environmental and forest regulations.
No labour camps or new roads will be allowed within the forest area, and the forest land cannot be transferred or used for any other purpose without prior approval from the Centre.
The Divisional Forest Officer of the Nagaland Zoological Park Division has been directed to monitor compliance and submit regular reports to the concerned authorities.
