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.
The Chief Executive Member, Chakma Autonomous District Council is pleased to allocate the portfolios among the members of the Executive Committee of the 11th Chakma Autonomous District Council as shown below with immediate effect:
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 government’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.
Kamalanagar, 17 February, 2024: In an effort to combat the recurring threat of wildfires during the jhum burning season, a “Fire Awareness Campaign” 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:
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;
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.
Village Councils and NGOs to disseminate government order pertaining to Jhum burning and other precautionary measures for prevention of fire incidents; and,
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.
In accordance with Section 9, Section 39, Section 40 and Section 48 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the Indian Forest Act, 1927 as amended from time to time, sale of all forms of wild animals including their parts and derivatives is completely banned within the jurisdiction of the Chakma Forest Division with immediate effect.
In exercise of powers conferred under Rule 30 of the Chakma Autonomous District Council (Constitution, Conduct of Business etc.) Rules, 2002 and as amended from time to time, the Chief Executive Member of Chakma Autonomous District Council is pleased to allocate the portfolios among the members of the Executive Committee of the 11th Chakma Autonomous District Council as shown below with immediate effect.
Kamalanagar, 26 February, 2023: A team of delegates from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) headed by Dg. Akihito Sakurai who came from Lawngtlai yesterday interacted with various Head of Departments in a meeting organized by Chakma Autonomous District Council today in the Conference Hall of CADC Rest House, Kamalanagar. He was accompanied by Dr. Michiko Ebato, Co-Team Leader; Dr. Sanjay Verma, Dgb. Keiko Kani, Dg. Ryunosuke Ogawa, Dg. Dinesh Kumar and Dg. Shalabh P. Bharadwaj.
Dg. Pronit Bikash Chakma, Executive Secretary, CADC; Dg. Buddhankur Chakma, Sr. Finance & Accounts Officer, CADC; Dg. Prabin Chakma, Planning & Development Officer, CADC; Dg. Bimbisar Dewan, District Council Conservator of Forest, CADC; Dg. Jagadish Chakma, District Council Horticulture Officer, CADC; Dg. Nilo Ranjan Chakma, Assistant Conservator of Forest, CADC and Dg. Suman Chakma, Assistant Information & Public Relation Officer, CADC among others have attended the meeting.
A Souvenir of CADC Golden Jubilee, Notebook and a Calendar of CADC was presented to all the visiting members as a token of gift from CADC.
Dg. Pronit Bikash Chakma while welcoming the visiting team members expressed his happiness for their visit to Kamalanagar and their keen interest towards CADC and its people. He informed that this visit to CADC from International Agency like JICA is the first of its kind as CADC is one of the remotest and underdeveloped part of the country. He gave a brief report on CADC and appraised many challenges which bar the path for its development. He mentioned that only a meagre amount is left from the non-salary component meant for development which is not even enough for the maintenance of Offices is one of the reasons that CADC is lagging behind in every spheres. With the visit of the JICA team, the people of CADC not only will be beneficial but also certain structural development like roads will take place even though it is still at rudimentary stage to say, he added.
People will earn permanent livelihood through alternative source of income other than jhum cultivation when certain projects under JICA will be taken up in the time to come, he further added.
Dg. Akihito Sakurai informed that the purpose of their visit to Kamalanagar is to study and access the conditions for conservation of forest and its biodiversity within CADC area and the feasibility of projects under JICA in CADC. He invited all to share their views on the subjects accordingly. After which a round of interaction with the team members was held with respective Head of Departments.
Dg. Bimbisar Dewan presented a report on climate, forest cover and its types, vegetation, demography, socio-economic life of the people and bio-graphical importance of forest in CADC area. He mentioned that the area of CADC is comparatively small with an area of 686.25 sq. km, from which approximately 76% is forestland but, due to lack of alternative source of income majority of the population depend on jhum cultivation for their livelihood. Out of 15, 572 families (as per Village Population Register, 2022), more than 70% of the families depends on jhum cultivation and agricultural activities for their permanent livelihood.
Dg. Prabin Chakma while explaining mentioned that a project on Bamboo Plantation in the wasteland area outside Indo-Bangla Border Fencing in the western part of CADC was submitted to the Finance Commission sometime back, but the project never materialized and hence no such project on forest conservation was made again.
However, he mentioned that with the increasing population, some are eying the virgin forest in the catchment area of Palenosora, which is the only source of water left to feed the populace of Kamalanagar town area. He also mentioned, earlier, the sound of the flow of water in the rivers of the nearby area can be heard from a distant place but, now the amount of water that flows decreased so much that it has left to nothing in some parts. From this we can deduce that the forest is massively damaged though without any reliable data, he added.
Dg. Buddhankur Chakma explained about the financial status of CADC and how some Department in CADC is left to skeleton due to lack of fund and project. He mentioned that it is true that Soil & Water Conservation Department has scope to contribute for conservation of soil and water but, due to lack of fund it is simply an idle department.
He thanked Young Chakma Association (YCA), a community-based organization and Tharum, a forest-based organization for their endeavours in protecting and preserving the forest in CADC. Both the organizations support the authority as and when necessary, he added.
The meeting was concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Prabin Chakma.
After which the team went to visit the Central Nursery at Sadarasora. They will leave for Aizawl today.
The visit to CADC was a part of their field visit to different districts of Mizoram including 3 Autonomous District Councils namely Chakma, Lai and Mara Autonomous District Council of Mizoram.
Kamalanagar, 24 January, 2022: Meeting-cum-awareness campaign on prevention and control of forest fire was held today in the conference hall of CADC Rest House, Kamalanagar organized by Environment, Forest & Climate Change Department, CADC in collaboration with Young Chakma Association and TARUM.
Dg. Rasik Mohan Chakma, Chief Executive Member, CADC and Dg. Charan Singh Chakma, Executive Member, CADC attended the programme as Chief Guest and Guest of Honour. The programme was also attended by leaders of Kamalanagar town area village councils and local NGOs.
It has been decided that awareness campaign on prevention of forest fire & protection of water sources shall be jointly organized by the NGOs & concerned department. To give effect to the agendum local level committees will be constituted at every village with members of village council and NGOs.
The Committees shall oversee and ensure burning of Jhum on or before 15th of March, ensure fire line along the border of jhums to prevent spread of fire to forest areas, check fishing with chemicals, by electrocution and explosion, check dumping of garbage/waste products into water bodies and demarcate boundaries of catchment areas of water sources and VFDC gardens.
Domestic Cattle such as bulls/cows and buffaloes which cause pollution to water bodies will be strictly prohibited from entering them.
The Committee shall encourage residents for planting of seedlings in memory of one’s own parents to enhance greenery in the locality.
The Chief Executive Member, CADC is pleased to allocate the portfolios among the members of the Executive Committee of the 10th Chakma Autonomous District Council as shown with immediate effect.
In pursuance of the directive received from General Administration & Control Department, Government of Mizoram vide L/No. F.14011/2/2012-GAD(RTI) date Aizawl, the 25th January 2021, the Executive Committee of Chakma Autonomous District Council is pleased to appoint the following State Public Information Officers (SPIOs) in all the Department of CADC as per Section 5(1) of the RTI ACT, 2005 to provide information under the Act.
Updated: 27/02/2024 Please be advised that this data may have changed since it was last updated. Please check with the concerned Department for latest information.
