‘No to Dzukou Valley parks’

Dimapur : A statement reportedly made by a leader of the Tenyimi Central Union that Dzukou Valley would be converted into a national park, has drawn fire from the Southern Angami Public Organization. The SAPO, in a sharp response, claimed ownership over the valley and said no property should be ‘taken away’ for any development, without the consent of the “owner”. 

According to a note from SAPO’s executives, the president of Tenyimi Central Union said to convert Dzukou Valley into a national park and later to an international park. He is reported to have stated so “without any approval from SAPO” during the TCU’s general conference held at Maram Khullen on November 5, last year. Stating not to tolerate TCU’s statement, the SAPO said the declaration ignores the “consent of the owner and a clear case of distorting SAPO’s resolution”.

The SAPO also said it has made several public statements through the media that no individual, groups or communities and even State agencies would be allowed to take up any developmental activities without prior “approval” from the organization. On several occasions, the response said, the SAPO had “reaffirmed their age-old traditional right of ownership of the entire Dzukou Valley and Kezol areas as ancestral property”.  The southern Angami communities have exercised ownership over the land “by protecting the land and its resources prior to the Britishers arrival” it added.