Biodiversity hotspot Shirui hills now under threats
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Pamreiso Shimray
Ukhrul, November 02 2012:
Shirui hills, a hotspot of biodiversity in the Ukhrul district of Manipur, is under serious threats with depleting forest cover and wildlife fast disappearing over the years.
In his topical presentation on "Forest Development" in the afternoon session of the Bharat Nirman Campaign organized by PIB, Imphal on Friday, Lovejoy Rumthao, Range Officer, Forest Department, Ukhrul, said the Shirui hills is under serious threats with recurrent forest fire and wanton felling of trees.
"Shirui lilies are not the only important thing…may also disappeared in future," he stated.
Expressing deep concern over the prevailing situation in the Shirui hills, Rumthao felt that the condition may worsen if rampant forest destruction continues unabated in the hills.
Shirui hills is a site for important flora and fauna of Manipur.
The hotspot diversity situated 12 kms from Ukhrul town boasts of being the home to the important official symbols of the State namely Shirui Lily (flower), Nongin (bird) and U Ningthou (tree) .
He said that all these flora and fauna have disappeared from Shirui hills.
Highlighting some forest development schemes being undertaken in the current year, he informed that the AR, ANR and SMC programmes are being implemented in 18 blocks of the district.
He also informed that there are six biodiversity sites being maintained at Challou river, Maklang river at Shakok village, Shirui lily at Shirui village, Iril river at Phungthak hills, Khangkhui and Kachouphung.
On the other hand, considering drastic reduction in water production volume at Shirui hills and in the absence of alternative means so far, Ukhrul town is likely to face total shortage of water in the years to come.
Speaking on "Rural Drinking Water Supply" in the afternoon session of the Bharat Nirman Campaign, V Shangreiphao, SE, Rural Circle No.11, PHED, Manipur said that the water production level has drastically reduced over the years, thus falling totally short for the growing population in the Ukhrul town.
The statement was made based on official reports of the concerned department based on datas collected over the past few years.
"The yield of water source has reduced three-fourth since the earlier years.
In this case, the Ukhrul town would experience total water shortage in near future," he stated.
Unless certain measures are taken up to preserve and boost the water sources at Shirui hills, he expressed concern that the hilly town may face a serious drought with high concentration of population.
However, he stated that there are proposals for implementation of catchment area protection programme to preserve the water sources, and added that it already has the Cabinet approval of the State government.
Mentioning that there are various work programmes under rural water supply to be implemented in the district, the resource person informed that there are 13 centrally-sponsored schemes to be taken up at estimated cost of Rs 5.65 crore budget and nine State-funded schemes at a gross budget of Rs 1.81 crore.
He also informed that five NLCPR funded water supply schemes are being implemented in the district.
While the work progress at Riha (Loutei) being taken up a project cost of Rs 2.61 crore is 72 percent, it is only 40 percent for the work being taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 4.92 crore at Shangshak.
The other programmes in the pipeline are at Kamjong, Lunghar and Tolloi.
Furthermore, he pointed out that the performance of rural water supply programme was poor in the financial year 2011-2012 and cited fund constraints and diversion as the main factors.
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