Shirui National Park proposal strongly opposed
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik
Ukhrul, July 12 2018:
The Shirui Village Authority has strongly opposed the move of the State Government to declare Shirui Kashong forest area as Shirui National park under the Forest Department.
During an exclusive interaction, Shirui village headman Wungchangam and the village secretary Jacob Mungleng stated that the ownership of the land would not be transferred and Shirui villagers will maintain and conserve Shirui forest.
Shirui villagers have unanimously resolved to stand against the decision of the State Government to declare Shirui Kashong Reserve Forest and its surrounding area as Shirui National park.
According to headman Wungchangam, since the early 1980s onward, the State Forest Department has been consistently approaching the villagers to declare Shirui Kashong as Shirui National Park.
But so far no conclusive decision or MoU has been signed with regard to Shirui National Park.
The headman further stated that recently the Forest Department notified Shirui Kashong as an eco-sensitive zone, which is against the interest of the local people.
The Shirui village authority has not given any consent to the Forest Department for Shirui Kashong forest conservation.
Village secretary J Mungleng stated that under the plan of the Forest Department, the forest area covering more than 100 square kilometres would be reserved including portions of the adjoining villages Mapum, Langdang, Sihai, Khangkhui, Lunghar and Choithar.
He went on to mention that the rural people's main source of income is forest product and the villagers fear that converting Shirui forest into a National Park would endanger villagers in many ways.
He expressed apprehension that the villagers may even be forcefully evicted in the near future as per the rules and guidelines of the National Park.
Shirui villagers, after a series of meeting and consultation have resolved to preserve the forest as Shirui community reserve forest not let it go under the Forest Department.
J Mungleng further mentioned that over 50 land owners of Shirui village have formed an organization named "Shirui Kashong Area Forest Land Owners Conservancy" (SKAFLOC) .
SKAFLOC's main aim is to protect and conserve the depleting Shirui forest.