Environment, Forest & Climate Change

Notice on registration of private broom grass cultivation

With the approval of the Deputy Commissioner, Lawngtlai & Caretaker CADC, the Environment, Forest & Climate Change Department invites private gardeners who grow broom grass within CADC area to register their gardens with the forest department if they wish to collect or extract broom grass under the ‘Permit System’. Registration is designed to help regulate harvesting and maintain records, ensuring legal compliance and sustainable extraction.

Only after registration, gardeners can apply for the pennit needed for harvesting and transport. The gardens that are not registered under the forest deputment will be considered natural and will fall under the ‘sealed tender holder’ Interested individuals may approach the undersigned for details and may collect the registration form from the DCCF offce within offce hours. The last date of submission of the registration form is 30th of November 2025 and any registration forn received after the final submission deadline will be considered invalid.

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Notice inviting tender for collection, harvesting and trade of broom grass

With the approval of the Deputy Commissioner, Lawngtlai & Caretaker, CADC, sealed tenders are hereby invited by the Forest Department for granting a permit for the collection, harvesting and trade of broom grass from CADC forest areas for the upcoming collection season. The minimum bid amount is eight lakhs. Interested individuals may collect the tender form from the DCCF office within office hours.

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CADC to Introduce Permit System for Broom Stick Trade

Kamalanagar, 15 October, 2024: The Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) has decided to introduce a new licensing system to regulate the broom stick trade, replacing the existing Mohal system under the CADC. The decision was taken in its Executive Committee meeting held today (Tuesday, 15 October, 2024).

Under the new system, traders interested in harvesting both natural and gardener varieties of broom grass in CADC will now require a permit issued by the District Council Conservator of Forests (DCCF), CADC. The DCCF has been designated as the final authority to issue both the Permit and the Transit Permit required for the trade.

The rate for the Permit has been fixed at Rs. 3 per kilogram for both natural and gardener broom grass, while the rate for Transit Permit has been fixed at Rs.1 per kg.

As for the trade in sesame, it was decided that the existing system shall be continued and that the DCCF shall issue the permits as per the existing rates.

FIR lodged over unauthorized tree-felling in CADC Reserved Forest

Kamalanagar, 17 May 2024: The Environment, Forest & Climate Change Department of the Chakma Autonomous District Council has taken a decisive action against illegal deforestation activities in Borapansury. On 15 May, 2024, an FIR was lodged with the Borapansury Police Station against Shri Bira Kumar Chakma of Borapansury-II, for unauthorized felling of trees for jhum cultivation in the reserved forest area.

The FIR, filed by Shri Daya Moy Dhammei, District Council Conservator of Forests, stated that Bira Kumar Chakma has been engaged in felling of trees in the Village Forest Reserved of Borapansury-I, covering approximately 8.5 hectares. This act violates Sections 14 and 15 of the CADC Forest Act, 1992, which strictly prohibits the unauthorized use of reserved forest areas.

The complaint further cited a notification issued by the Government of Mizoram on April 20, 2020, which cancelled all agricultural land passes within notified reserved forests. In compliance, the Executive Committee of CADC cancelled all the passes including that of Shri Bira Kumar Chakma within the Village Supply Reserved Forest of Borapansury-I & II on October 9, 2023. As a result, he no longer has any legal right to use the land.

The Village Council President of Borapansury-I, had earlier lodged complaints against Shri Bira Kumar Chakma for his encroachment and illegal activities. Despite multiple requests and a warning letter issued by the District Council Conservator of Forests on March 4, 2024, directing him to stop all activities, he continued his illegal activities.

The FIR further stated that Shri Bira Kumar Chakma had breached state governmentโ€™s directives by burning jhum beyond the prescribed deadline of March 15, 2024. It was observed that he conducted the burning on April 23, 2024, violating the guidelines set by the Fire Prevention Committee of the state and district.

In light of these persistent violations, the complainant has urged the authorities to arrest Shri Bira Kumar Chakma and take appropriate legal action to prevent further illegal activities.

Fire awareness campaign organized at Kamalanagar

Kamalanagar, 17 February, 2024: In an effort to combat the recurring threat of wildfires during the jhum burning season, a โ€œFire Awareness Campaignโ€ was organized by the Environment, Forest & Climate Change Department, Chakma Autonomous District Council, on Saturday at the CADC Rest House Conference Hall, Kamalanagar. The programme was chaired by Dg. Dg. Daya Moy Dhamei, DCCF, CADC and graced by the presence of Dg. Kalasoga Chakma, Executive Member and in-Charge CEM as the Chief Guest, Village Council Presidents, representatives of YCA branches and officials from various departments of CADC.

The participants discussed at length the fixation of suitable date for completion of jhum burning in CADC area and formulation of effective strategies for prevention of fires, considering the substantial loss of forest resources and valuable assets to uncontrolled wildfires during the Jhum burning season in the past years. The Chairman, Dg. Daya Moy Dhamei, DCCF, CADC, stressed on the need for concerted efforts of all stakeholders in raising awareness among the general public on the threat of wildfires and the need for effective measures to prevent such untoward incidents.

Dg. Kalasoga Chakma, the Chief Guest, in his address urged the Village Councils and NGOs to cooperate with the department in educating the public on effective fire prevention. He also requested the Village Councils and NGOs to identify potential supply reserves within their jurisdictions and obtain LSC passes from the Land Revenue & Settlement Department. As an incentive, the Chief Guest announced cash prizes of Rs.20,000, Rs.15,000, and Rs.10,000, respectively, to the three best performing Village Councils in fire prevention and control.

The following resolutions were unanimously taken in the meeting:

  1. Burning of Jhum is to be completed on or before 15th March, 2024, throughout the CADC in compliance with the deadline set by the State government;
  2. Village Councils and NGOs to select safety/supply reserves within their respective areas and apply for LSC passes from the Land Revenue & Settlement Department. Any destruction of trees in these protected areas will result in stringent actions against the individuals involved.
  3. Village Councils and NGOs to disseminate government order pertaining to Jhum burning and other precautionary measures for prevention of fire incidents; and,
  4. Cash awards of Rs.20,000, Rs.15,000, and Rs.10,000 to be awarded to the three best-performing villages in fire prevention and control.