Kohima: The Nagaland cabinet has decided to appeal to the Home Ministry to exclude the state from the purview of the Protected Area Permit (PAP).
Nagaland Environment Minister C L John said that during a cabinet meeting held in the chief minister’s residential complex on Monday, the decision was taken to request the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to revoke the PAP regime in Nagaland.
He said the cabinet decided to appeal to the Centre to revoke the PAP system in Nagaland considering the peaceful law and order situation in the state and the absence of any influx of illegal immigrants.
A foreigner is required to obtain a Protected Area Permit to visit certain areas of India, including parts of the northeastern region.
“During the cabinet meeting, a thorough deliberation was made over the PAP regime. The council of ministers observed that the state peacefully celebrated the Hornbill festival from December 1 to 10 last year with more than 2,000 foreigners attending the event. The cabinet decided to appeal to the Centre to revoke the PAP system in Nagaland,” John said.
Altogether 2,05,968 visitors, including 2,527 foreigners, thronged Naga heritage village Kisama, the venue for the Hornbill festival, around 12 kms south of the state capital.
The PAP, which had been in place for foreigners since the 1960s as a security measure due to the region’s sensitive nature and geopolitical concerns, was revoked in December 2021.
This gave foreigners easier access to Nagaland and other northeastern states without the need for such permits.
ALSO READ: Centre reimposes ‘Protected Area Regime’ in Manipur, Mizoram & Nagaland
With the reimposition of PAP, the movement of foreigners visiting the state will be closely monitored, and they are required to obtain the necessary Protected Area Permits (PAP) in accordance with the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958.
