Guwahati: Even as Manipur remains mired in what is now a seemingly endless conflict between the Meiteis and Kukis, it is becoming clear that several other critical issues need to be addressed. One such issue is the anger among residents of the Tousem sub-division of the Tamenglong district of Manipur opposing the declaration of Zeilad Wildlife Sanctuary because they fear being uprooted from ancestral homes and livelihoods.
It is not just fear that concerns the villagers, who are predominantly Rongmei and other Naga tribes inhabiting the region. It is also about identity and rights over land and resources, which are crucial to their very existence and dignity. They are ready to fight for their rights over their land and resources at any cost.
In November 2024, under the aegis of the Zeilad Wildlife Sanctuary Affected Village Committee, villagers protested against the declaration of the sanctuary, chanting slogans of “No” to Zeilad Wildlife Sanctuary and calling for a stop to the survey of the area and resource explorations such as oil.
In a written declaration signed by various tribe-based organizations, they stated that land and resources are an integral part of their identity and survival. They asserted that such declarations of wildlife sanctuaries threaten their tradition, way of life, livelihood, and rights. The villagers under the committee demanded the withdrawal of the proposed sanctuary. They called for recognising community rights and a community-based approach to forest and resource management. They emphasized that policies and plans should be made with community consent and participation.
Villagers argue that the proposed Zeilad Sanctuary will restrict access to the forest and its natural resources, which they have depended on and nurtured for generations. Their activities, such as agriculture and pisciculture, will be severely disrupted. The demarcation will restrict their physical movement and infringe upon their rights, thus uprooting them from the core of their survival and existence.
“We are going to be affected by the sanctuary,” said Kamei Nemia, a villager from Chingkhonglong. His village falls under the sensitive zone, the buffer zone of the proposed sanctuary. “There are 28 households in our village,” said Nemia, who further elaborated that the villagers have been living there for generations. The forest and the rivers are all part of their lives. Each village in the area, on average, comprises about 20-30 households.
Feeling anxious, Nemia questions, “Why do they prioritize the protection of animals rather than humans?”
Villagers became aware of developments around their habitat sometime in the mid-1990s. “We came to know about the proposed sanctuary through local newspapers and word of mouth,” said Gunrei Kamei.
A social activist and a resident of Nungba village, Kamei said that a total of 16 villages would be directly impacted by the proposed sanctuary. While there has been no official intimation about the proposed sanctuary to the villagers nor any visit by concerned departments, Kamei further stated that there is no information or public dialogue about any resettlement of the villagers who would be ousted.
“We came to know about the proposal and declaration of the sanctuary only when journalists and activists came to our villages and informed us about it in the mid-90s,” said Kamei.
No public consultation over the sanctuary ever took place, said Nemia. “We did not consent, nor were we asked for it.”
“Obviously, we will be told to leave our villages,” said Nemia. “There is no talk or dialogue about resettlement for the villagers either,” he added.
Now that villagers are aware of the proposed sanctuary in their homestead, it has become a major concern and a point of contention. Gunrei Kamei and a few villagers have attempted to hold public dialogues and campaigns to raise their voices of opposition. In February this year, the villagers held a community consultation further to assert their right over their land and resources, emphasizing that the land under the proposed sanctuary is ancestral land and belongs to the community. Villagers reaffirmed their stand against the sanctuary.
Nemia asserts, “For us, it is a no to the sanctuary.”
The public consultation was attended by tribe-based traditional organizations and civil societies of the area. Village and community leaders deliberated and discussed community-led initiatives and explored sustainable solutions to address the challenges faced by the villages that will be impacted by the sanctuary declaration.
Several organizations, such as the Rongmei Naga Council Manipur (RNCM), Rongmei Naga Youth Organisation Manipur (RNYOM), Rongmei Naga Luh Phwam Manipur (RNLPM), and Rongmei Naga Students’ Organisation Manipur (RNSOM), stood in support of the sanctuary-affected villagers.
One of the key reasons for the opposition to the sanctuary is that a large number of villagers will be forced to leave their homes and villages to give space and protection to the wildlife. Kamei said, “The proposed sanctuary is about 21 sq km, and all those villages that come under the said sanctuary area will obviously be evicted,” he said, echoing the fears of the villagers. “Where will they go?” he asked.
Moreover, an additional 235 sq km has been declared an eco-sensitive zone. This will further affect more villages.
Zeilad Wildlife Sanctuary was proclaimed in July 1997 by the Forest Department of the Government of Manipur under Section 21 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. The rationale was to give adequate ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological, natural, and ecological significance to constitute a wildlife sanctuary to protect, propagate, and develop wildlife or its environment.
As a follow-up, the Tamenglong Deputy Commissioner issued a notification of declaration in April 2012. In the latest development, in July 2023, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest/Wildlife asked the Deputy Commissioner to expedite necessary action to issue a final notification. The district commissioner was requested to complete the settlement of the rights of villagers inside the proposed sanctuary.
Located in the remote interior forest of the Tamenglong district, Zeilad is a water body comprising seven lakes. A biodiversity hotspot, it is home to a variety of fish, birds, and other animals. It has also been reported that the area contains a rich variety of flora.
In recent years, the forest and the area around Zeilad Lake have been an attraction for adventure tourism for wildlife and nature enthusiasts. It may also be mentioned that some of these lakes have slowly been drying up and that flora and fauna have been impacted by pollution and environmental degradation. Meanwhile, there are also reports of poaching and commercial felling of trees in the forest, causing grave concern.
While the sanctuary demarcation is yet to be carried out, the villagers who are going to be affected remain firm in their commitment to oppose the sanctuary. They are ready to take any steps to stop the sanctuary and prevent forceful eviction. Some of the villages that will be affected include Zeilad (the core village), Makuai, Charinapang, Impa-Nkang, Impa-Ningdi, Chingkao, Taijijang, Tongtao, Chingkhonglong, and others.
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