No orders issued for seizure of traditional herbs, fish: Forest Department

A CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: The Department of Environment, Forest & Climate Change has issued a formal clarification stating that it has not authorized or issued any order for the seizure of herbs, organic leafy vegetables, or fish from the Itanagar market under the pretext of forest or wildlife produce.

This clarification comes in the wake of viral videos and photographs circulating on social media, which show a team led by a magistrate appointed by the ICR District Administration, accompanied by police personnel and two frontline forest staff—one forest guard and one contingency forest watcher—allegedly seizing traditional food items from local vendors in Itanagar market.

According to the department, the involved forest personnel are under the jurisdiction of the Deputy Chief Wildlife Warden, Itanagar Sanctuary Division, Naharlagun.

The operation reportedly took place at the behest of Nabam Regum, Chairperson of the Papum Pare District Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC), who also claims to represent the All Arunachal BMC Members Association.

The department expressed concern that such actions have caused serious inconvenience to the public, as evidenced by the viral videos.

“The department was neither involved in nor did it authorize any such operation. A formal explanation has been sought from the Deputy Chief Wildlife Warden regarding the participation of the two frontline staff in the incident,” the statement said.

Additionally, the department has requested a written clarification from the Member Secretary of the Arunachal Pradesh State Biodiversity Board (APSBB) regarding the alleged involvement of Nabam Regum.

The department further clarified the legal position under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: protection is granted only to a specific list of Scheduled Plants, such as Beddome’s cycad (Cycas beddomei), blue vanda (Vanda coerulea), lady’s slipper orchids (Paphiopedilum spp.), and the pitcher plant (Nepenthes khasiana). These species are prohibited from being picked, uprooted, or traded without prior permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden.

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