Dimapur, April 13 (MExN): The State Environment and Forestry Training Institute (SEFTI), Dimapur, on Monday organised a one-day workshop on transit pass issuance for officers and frontline staff of the Forest Department.
The inaugural session was chaired by Assistant Director, SEFTI, Imtitongdang Ozukum, while Director, SEFTI, D Zupeni Tsanglai, IFS, delivered the welcome address.
Conservator of Forests (RPU), Lhinghoikim Touthang, IFS, graced the occasion as the special guest and addressed the participants, stressing the need to strengthen regulatory mechanisms in the transit of forest produce.
The technical sessions were conducted by experienced officers, including Working Plan Officer, Kohima, D Rajiv Shankar, IFS; Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), Chümoukedima, Imkongsunep Longchar; ACF, Dimapur, Vivika Sema; and ACF, Longleng, Ailong Phom.
The sessions covered key topics such as legal sourcing of timber for wood-based industries, the concept and legal framework of transit pass systems, procedural aspects including forms and documentation, enforcement mechanisms, and regulations relating to non-timber forest produce (NTFP) and industrial estates in Nagaland.
A total of 30 participants, comprising officers and field staff ranging from Assistant Conservator of Forests to Forest Guards from various territorial divisions, attended the workshop.
The workshop aimed at enhancing the capacity of field functionaries and ensuring a uniform understanding of procedures related to the issuance of transit passes and collection of forest royalty. It also sought to streamline operational practices and strengthen compliance with legal provisions governing the movement of forest produce within and outside the state.
The Forest Department collected more than Rs 22 crore as forest royalty during the financial year 2024–25, officials said, adding that the workshop assumes significance in efforts to further improve revenue realisation through better awareness, efficiency and accountability among field staff.
The programme concluded with a reaffirmation of the department’s commitment to strengthening governance in forest produce regulation and enhancing revenue collection through systematic and transparent processes.
