ANINI, 1 Feb: The Idu-Mishmi Cultural and Literary Society (IMCLS) has once again called for a halt to the process of designating the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary (DWLS) as a tiger reserve until the long-standing issues faced by the Idu-Mishmi community are addressed. On Saturday, an IMCLS subcommittee met with the forest minister, submitting a reminder letter about the DWLS and the proposed tiger reserve. They urged the minister to instruct the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) to fully adopt recommendations from a fact-finding committee report submitted by the Dibang Valley deputy commissioner. The report, dated 8 September 2018, advocated revising the boundary of the DWLS to 1,500 sq km from the current 4,149 sq km and called for pausing the tiger reserve notification process until the community’s grievances are addressed.
IMCLS contends that the illegal designation of the DWLS and its approval as a tiger reserve threaten the livelihood and well-being of the Idu-Mishmi community. This action, they argue, contravenes India’s international legal obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which recognize the rights of indigenous communities over traditional lands. Public meetings and gram sabha resolutions from 42 villages across Mipi, New Aropo, Etabe, Mihundo, Gipulin, Alinye, Acheso-Angrim Valley, Apanli, and Malinye have voiced strong opposition to the proposed tiger reserve.
Concerns were previously communicated on 4 March 2023 by representatives from the All Gaon Bura Association, Dibang Valley, and the district unit of the All Arunachal Pradesh Gaon Bura Welfare Association. Objections were sent to the chief secretary and the PCCF, Itanagar, via postal receipts dated 12 and 14 April 2023. These concerns were also aired at higher offices, including the prime minister’s office, the chief minister, the governor’s office, the ministries of environment, tribal affairs, and others. Despite persistent appeals, the community’s legitimate concerns remain unaddressed, the letter stated.
Original Source: https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2025/02/02/imcls-reiterates-appeal-to-halt-process-of-notifying-dwls-as-tiger-reserve/
Category : State News
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Publish Date: 2025-02-02 00:41:00
