Forest & Environment

Ban on sale of all forms of wild animals and their parts and derivatives

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.

Allocation of portfolios to the Executive Members of CADC

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.

JICA team visits Kamalanagar, hope for positive outcome

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.

Meeting-cum-awareness campaign on prevention and control of fire held

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.

State Public Information Officers (SPIOs)

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.

CADC Land Dispute & Settlement Advisory Board constituted

Kamalanagar, 28 May, 2021: Chakma Autonomous District Council Land Dispute and Settlement Advisory Board was constituted today with Dg. Lakhi Dhan Chakma, MDC as its Chairman and the Sr. Revenue Officer as the Member Secretary. The other members of the Board include the Revenue Officer, the Sr. Taxation Officer, the District Council Conservator of Forest, the Local Administration Officer, the Assistant Revenue Officers, the President, CYCA, the concerned VCP, Dg. Ranga Mohan Chakma, Sr. citizen and Dg. Madhu Mangal Chakma, Sr. citizen.

Land dispute cases deemed to be complicated will be referred to the Board for further investigation. The Board shall examine cases referred to it utilizing the services of any staff of Land Revenue & Settlement Department if necessary and shall have the right to access to any files required in connection with settling the land dispute. Its role shall be limited to recommend the Executive Committee based on its finding and final decision shall rest with the Executive Committee.

The Board will serve for a term of three years which can be dissolved earlier. It shall sit for a minimum of three times a year and the Chairman shall have the discretion to summon the Board at any time if and when felt necessary.

Executive Committee – Portfolios

In excercise of the powers conferred under Rule 30 of Chakma Autonomous District Council (Constitution, Conduct of Business etc.) Rules, 2020 and as amended from time to time, the portfolios among the members of the Executive Committee of the 10th Chakma Autonomous District Council are allocated as shown below with immediate effect.

CADC Winter Session passes the Election to Village Councils Amendment Rules, 2019

Kamalanagar, 20 December, 2019: The CADC Winter Session 2019 in its second sitting held today passed the CADC (Election to Village Councils) (Amendment) Rules, 2019 unanimously while referring the CADC (Forest) (Amendment) Act, 2019 to a Select Committee. The two amendment bills were introduced in the first sitting. The CADC (Election to Village Councils) (Amendment) Rules, 2019 was moved by Dg. Uday Tongchangya, Executive Member while the CADC (Forest) (Amendment) Act, 2019 was moved by Dg. Durjya Dhan Chakma. Before start of discussion over the amendment bills, Dg Buddha Lila Chakma, MDC proposed two amendment bills one each for the CADC (Election to Village Councils) (Amendment) Rules, 2019 another for the CADC (Forest) (Amendment) Act, 2019. The bills though missed the requirement of submission to the Secretary, District Council before three clear days, the Chairman, CADC Dg. H. Amaresh Chakma calling his discretion allowed the bills moved by Dg. Buddha Lila Chakma to be discussed and voted. After prolonged discussion the CADC (Election to Village Councils) (Amendment) Rules, 2019 was passed unanimously while the CADC (Forest) (Amendment) Act, 2019 was referred to a Select Committee for further study. It is hoped that the bill will be tabled in the next session with necessary changes. The sitting answered four questions during the question hour. With the conclusion of the second sitting today the session was declared prorogued.

The CADC Biological Diversity Rules’ 2019 introduced in the Monsoon Session

Kamalanagar, 19 August, 2019: The second sitting of the CADC Monsoon Session which was held today introduced the CADC Biological Diversity Rules’ 2019. The bill was introduced by Dg. Durjya Dhan Chakma, Executive Member i/c Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department. It will be discussed and voted in the fourth sitting scheduled on 21/8/2019.

If the bill gets legislated it will provide for formation of Biodiversity Management Committee in every village which will implement environmental programmes and schemes of the central government.

The CADC Trading Regulation, 2016 which received the assent of the Governor on 2/12/2016 and published in the Gazette was laid in the House today by Dg. Rasik Mohan Chakma, CEM, CADC. The Regulation provides for control of trades within CADC area. It deals with issue of licence for different category of traders and fees thereof besides other trade related matters.

The Mizoram State Biological Diversity Rules’ 2010 was also laid in the House by Dg. Durjya Dhan Chakma, Executive Member and moved for its adoption in the CADC.

The sitting answered six unstarred questions put by the Members in the opposition bench.