ZIRO, 14 Jul: Hapoli Forest Division DFO Abhinav Kumar said that eco-development committees (EDC) are set up with the dual purpose of protecting wildlife and biodiversity and undertaking eco-developmental activities in the villages.
Chairing a meeting with members of the Talley Eco Development Committee (TEDC) here on Tuesday, the DC said, “The EDCs will also protect and develop the protected areas as well as permit the local communities to reap the benefits of eco-development activities, subject to observance of rules and regulations under various acts, such as the Indian Forest Act, 1927, the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.”
Ruling out any plans for construction of alternative roads to Talley, the DFO informed that “there are no plans from the side of the Hapoli forest division to build an alternative road to Tale valley, as the land area is inside a wildlife sanctuary.”
Future ecotourism activities and land-cutting issues in Talley valley were also discussed during the meeting.
The TEDC, constituted in 2020, will soon be registered under the Society Registration Act, 1860, the DC informed.
Among others, TEDC chairman Hage Dolo, member secretary N Tachang, the Talley wildlife range RFO and executive members from Hong, Hari, Mudang Tage and Dutta villages attended the meeting.
Talley valley is a wildlife sanctuary as well as a biodiversity hotspot located at a distance of 35 kms from Lower Subansiri HQ Ziro. Home to subtropical and alpine forests, it has a variety of flora and fauna, many of which are endangered.
It is also home to the highly endangered clouded leopard. Pleioblastus simonii is a bamboo variety found only in Talley valley. (DIPRO)
