Arunachal: Vendors Protest Seizure of Wild Herbs at Itanagar’s Gandhi Market

ITANAGAR: In a step that has sparked mass indignation, officials headed by the Papum Pare Biodiversity Management Committee on Tuesday confiscated wild vegetables and herbs from local sellers at Gandhi Market in Itanagar.

Among the items seized were widely traded forest products like wild banana flowers, Indian prickly ash, and fragrant litsea—household staples and integral to the cultural cuisine of the region.

The crackdown drew sharp criticism from vegetable vendors, most of whom are daily wage laborers reliant on local herb sales for their income. "On people's demand, we pick up wild herbs and sell them in the market. Today they took away our vegetables and harassed us," said Takam Yajak, a visibly agitated vendor.

Speaking along the same line, another trader, Yapung Rigia, challenged the reasoning behind the clampdown. "If we can't sell wild herbs, then what do we sell? Our families live on our daily market income. If we can't sell vegetables, they should provide us with government employment," she added, citing the traders' heavy dependence on this informal sector for survival.

It has been revealed that the operation was done in exercise of power under an order dated 27 March issued by the Itanagar Capital Region Deputy Commissioner, Talo Potom.

The order was based on a report that chairperson Papum Pare Biodiversity Management Committee Nabam Regum had submitted to the effect that vendors were selling wild animal meat and other forest items that are banned.

Regum, in whose leadership the operation was personally conducted, justified the action by saying that only those commodities falling under the definition of protected as per the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, were hit. "The operation was necessary to protect local biodiversity," Regum informed The Arunachal Times.

But things were made more ambiguous after the Forest Department openly disassociated itself with the action. In a public statement, the department clarified that it had neither sanctioned nor been involved in the inspection or seizure operation, raising questions about the legality and coordination of the enforcement action.

As tempers and confusion grow, vendors are calling for clearer communication and better treatment. They say that if some herbs are to be banned, there must be proper awareness campaigns and alternatives offered before action is taken.

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