[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he oft heard complain in the state is of leaders who cannot look beyond the interest of their tribesmen, their constituency, village, their community, and ultimately themselves. So is there any leader who can be selfless and expand their vision to encompass taking a decision which will benefit the state by taking a right decision based on merit? The recent news that the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNer) has sanctioned one of the biggest tourism projects in recent years in a single concentrated area in Englan range in Wokha and not in the Sungro Range, where the largest conglomeration of Amur Falcons take place, answers the question, sadly in the negative. It is widely believed that this decision has been influenced by the Forest Minister who hails from Englan and not Sungro range. The voters see more than what meets the eye. On the contrary, imagine the proposed tourism project placed in the right setting. What a different message that would have sent. Ever an optimist,one will hope that the interests of the inhabitants of Sungro range will be addressed fairly.Sungro range is located by the Doyang reservoir where the world phenomenon of the passage of the migratory Amur Falcons occur annually in October. The well documented controversy surrounding the massacre of the Amur falcons is well known. The facts with photographic evidence of the unabated killing and trappings of these birds were publicized by a team of Conservation India and its associate members of the Nagaland Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation Trust, in October 2012. The news not only made world news it also invited help from many quarters to address the hitherto accepted form of ‘hunting’ by all in the state including the concerned Environment and Forest Department.
The fact is the large scale hunting admitted by villagers had been on for almost a decade with no questions asked. The arrival of the Amur Falcons immediately connects Nagaland, and more importantly the future generation of Nagas immediately to all the nations in the world wherever these go.
We know they originate in Mongolia/ Siberia and fly back via Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and South Africa. Some closer home, also fly to Bangladesh before re-entering the sub-continent as they make their way to the western shore for that final flight to the African continent which they enter via the Gulf of Eden. Three Amur falcons in Pangti village by the banks of the Doyang reservoir were even tagged with radio satellites in October 2013, by visiting scientists who arrived in Nagaland learning of the gathering of the birds in reports of October 2012.And the world is today richer on the knowledge gained by the passage of these marathon creatures whose flight patterns will help science understand the wonders of our planet and all it sustains, plants and animals above and below the earth’s surface and in the ocean deep.
It was primarily the decision by villagers of Pangti, Sungro, Asha and Doyang following several awareness campaigns and engagements with villagers by several NGO’s, action on the part of the district administration along with the Forest department, and a government order that village funds would be diverted if there were reports of hunting which resulted in ‘no hunting in 2013’ giving hope for wildlife conservation in Nagaland.
Therefore, it is only natural to presume that the sanction by DoNER for the integrated tourism project derives its credit, merit and strength on the recent expose of the Amur Falcons by the groups mentioned earlier.There are arguments that the natural or more favored resting place of these tiny yet majestic creatures in the Sungro range should not be disturbed by big infrastructures, and therefore it may not be unwise to base Englan as the tourism hub but counter arguments also hold out. The very spot and area which earned Nagaland status of ‘Amur Falcon capital of world’ is well deserving of a generous portion of the plans under the 3 crore plus project. The villages here can do without the monstrous concrete tourist bungalows which have rooms with attached bathrooms without water, and kitchens that are ill maintained but they could definitely do with good roads, water supply to homes, toilets, dependable electricity, improved home stays and human resource training to gear up for sustainable tourism.
