14.6.2012 (UNI) The Kohima bench of the Gauhati High Court, through an order issued on June 11, has directed the respondents of Nagaland Zoological Park (NZP), Rangapahar encroachment case, Thilixu 'B' Village represented by P Viyiho Sema not to go for any further construction from the date of passing the order.

In an official statement, the Director of the Nagaland Zoological Park, Rangapahar stated that P Viyiho Sema, Gaon Burah of Thilixu 'B' Village and his party taking advantage of the court order on April 24, passed in the court of the Civil Judge Dimapur, encroached upon government land between the road and the parameter wall of Nagaland Zoological Park, Rangapahar, near Dimapur town.

He further said during the first week of May, the party started clearing the areas between the road and the parameter wall and began construction of houses.

From the very first day, the department tried ways and means to stop the activities but the party continued to encroach upon the government land unheeded.

The release said the department has challenged the order of Civil Judge of Dimapur in Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, and the case has been listed for hearing after two weeks.

In the meantime, the court had directed the respondents not to go for any further construction from the date of passing the order.

'The Nagaland Zoological Park, Rangapahar is the only Zoological Park in the entire state and the state government is making all efforts to develop the Zoological Park for public welfare and as a centre for conservation of wildlife and biodiversity of the state,' it said. UNI