KOHIMA, MARCH 22: Nagaland Assembly today passed two important Government bills.
Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton moved the first bill: “Nagaland Village and Tribal Councils (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022 while Minister for Soil & Water Conservation and Geology & Mining, V Kashiho Sangtam took up the “Nagaland Groundwater (Regulation & Control of Development and Management) Bill, 2020 on the third day of ongoing budget session of the State Assembly.
The bills were passed by voice vote as the members of the opposition-less UDA Government did not seek any clarification on the two Government bills.
The Village and Tribal Councils Bill amendment bill was necessitated in order to make additions in the qualification criteria of becoming a member of the Village Council so that the possibility of non-indigenous persons becoming members of the VC is prevented along with those persons who are no longer the permanent residents of a village, stated the Deputy CM.
There is also a need for coming up with clear provisions regarding the tenure of the Councils as well as bringing out clearly that any dispute regarding its constitution shall be brought before the State Government for resolution, it stated.
Further, the Bill sought to re-insert the enabling Section of the Act that was removed in earlier Amendments. The Village Councils have been functioning as customary courts, as provided for under the Rules of Administration of Justice and Police in Nagaland, 1937, but this Section was removed by an earlier Amendment.
The Bill also sought to re-insert the provision allowing the State Government to frame rules for carrying out the purpose of the Act which was there earlier but got deleted in one of the Amendments.
Meanwhile, the objective of the second bill on Groundwater Management is to meet basic human needs and livestock needs.
It would also promote sustainable groundwater use in the public interest, based on a long-term protection of available resources.
The bill also aims to protect ecosystems and their biological diversity while also ensuring that present and future generations have access to sufficient quantity and quality of basic water.
(Page News Service)
