ZIRO, Mar 9: A public hearing on Kassin Puttu (Ago) Village Forest Reserve was conducted at Ziro on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Divisional Forest Officer Abhinav Kumar of Hapoli Forest Division.
As per the preliminary notification of the Village Forest Reserve dated Itanagar, the 19th January 2018, the Government of Arunachal Pradesh had proposed to constitute the land as Kassin Putu (Ago) as village forest. A detailed power point presentation on the history of the VFR was done by Likha Obi, RFO Yachuli. The hearing was attended by the land owners and other members of Harung and Khoda clans. 
Representatives and elders from Harung and Khoda clans expressed their views over notification of Kassin Puttu (Ago) VFR and said that the rightful claims of the original land donors must be included in the notification.
Speaking on the occasion, Khoda Depung, ZPM of Upper Yachuli strongly stressed the point that land owners should be made aware of any developmental schemes to be implemented in their areas for equitable development of the region.
Meanwhile, the DFO while addressing the gathering, elaborated on the importance of the creation of VFRs for the benefit of local residents. The concept was started under the Arunachal Pradesh Anchal and Village Forest Reserve (Constitution and Maintenance) Amendment Act, 1984 with the idea to share equally the benefits arising out of the forest area between the public and the government. The VRF model also helps in restoration of degraded forest area of the state leading to greater carbon sequestration and water conservation in the region. He further suggested that the land owners may hold further meetings with the involvement of PRI members at village level and submit their opinion on the matter to the government within a month.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
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