Aizawl-based Joint Action
Committee (JAC) on Inner Line Forest Reserve in Mizoram today burnt the political map of Mizoram alleging the Assam government had claimed 509 sq km of Mizoram's territory due to this 'faulty' map.
Chairman of JAC Vanlalngaia said they had submitted a memorandum to BJP president Amit Shah when the latter visited the state last year, while state Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma refused to meet the JAC leaders.
Vanlalngaia also slammed the state government for being a silent spectator to the issue, while failing to resolve the border disputes with Assam.
He said the Inner Line Reserve Forest area was under the then Mizo District Council within Assam with the Cachar Forest Division looking after the area as the district council did not have enough personnel to man the reserve area.
He said 70 per cent of the forest royalty realised from the area was handed over to the Mizo District Council authorities, while 30 per cent was kept by the Cachar Forest Division as expenses for looking after the reserve.
The JAC, a conglomerate of civil societies and student bodies, have been demanding that the Cachar Forest Division should hand over the maintenance of the Inner Line Forest Reserve to the Environment and Forest Department of Mizoram.
