Seven held as plantation drive ends in chaos
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 05 2022: A tree plantation drive organised in connection with the observance of World Environment Day by a team of Central Forest Division including the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), at Nongmaiching Reserved Forest area on Sunday ended in chaos after villages of Nongmaiban village raised objection against the programme.

Consequently, 7 people (3 women, 4 men) including a village chief were arrested by police.

The arrested people have been identified as Nongmaiban chief Kangkhosat Haokip (73) s/o (L) Jangkhokhai Haokip, Boipu Chiru (50) s/o (L) Achon Chiru, Khaineh Haokip (38) s/o (L) Seh-khojang Haokip, Kahiminlen Haokip (28) s/o Jangkhosat Haokip, Lalam Haokip (35) w/o Khaineh Haokip, Boilhing Guite (30) w/o Mimi Guite and Chanchan Haokip (21) w/o Khaiminlen Haokip.

The incident occurred around 10 am on Sunday, when a combined team of AMSU Imphal East District Committee, Central Forest Division, Co-Ordinating Body Khurai, Khurai Pana Apunba Singlup and Takhel United Club reached Nongmaiching Reserved Forest to plant tree saplings but were prohibited from doing so by the villagers of Nongmaiban.

In this regard, DFO RK Amarjit Singh said that Central Forest Division had organised tree plantation drives for Imphal East and Imphal West districts in Nongmaiching Reserved Forest area in connection with the observance of World Environment Day.

Parts of the location had been cleared previously for poppy plantation.

Thus, efforts were being made to plant tree saplings in the clear-off areas along with students and club members.

However, Nongmaiban villagers led by its chief objected to planting of trees, stating that the area belongs to the village.

When the villagers were asked to produce relevant papers proving that the area belongs to them, they failed to do so.

The tree planting team, however, presented a copy of the gazetted notification published by the government on January 4,1990, proving that that the proposed area falls under Compartment no 7 of Nongmaiching Reserved Forest area.

Subsequently, both sides came to a solution and agreed to plant the tree saplings together in connection with World Environment Day, he conveyed.

However, some young people of the village proceeded to uproot the flex, which was installed to highlight Sunday's tree plantation drive, resulting in a brief scuffle.

To prevent the situation from escalating, Lamlai Police was informed and a team arrived shortly to take control of the situation, the CFO recalled.

DFO RK Amarjit Singh continued that a preliminary notification was issued in 1966 regarding the criteria for a reserved forest.

On January 4,1990, the government issued a gazetted notification properly demarcating the reserved forest area of Nongmaiching.

At the time, the total area of the village was 125.44 acres and that of Nongmaiching Reserved Forest Area was 74.24 sq km, which is clearly documented.

However, it is unfortunate that some parts of the reserved forest area could not be saved, he remarked.

Meanwhile, Nongmaiching Range Officer has hied a complaint at Lamlai Police Station in connection with the incident.

A police report conveyed that 7 people (3 women, 4 men) including the chief of Nongmaiban have been arrested by police.

On the other hand, Apunbagi Thouna Village Level Federation has issued a press release informing that a tree plantation drive was carried out at Nongmaiching Reserved Forest area in collaboration with AMSU Imphal East District Committee and Central Forest Division, in connection with the observance of World Environment Day.

A unanimous resolution was also taken to protect the environment, it added.

According to Nongmaiban villagers, hundreds of people along with forest officials and the police arrived at the village around 8 am for the plantation drive and the local people confronted them as they were not informed and consulted about the plantation drive.

"We told the DFO and those coming for the plantation drive clearly that we are not against the plantation drive but we are against planting saplings without the knowledge and consent of the village chiefs.

We also told them our willingness to carry out the drive jointly with the participation of the local populace after due consultation with the village chiefs of the area", one of the villagers said.

The DFO then requested us to go ahead with the plantation with their participation as the day was World Environment Day, he added.

He continued, "Considering the appeal of the DFO and the importance of the day, we decided to carry out the plantation drive despite being Sunday, which is also a significant Pentecost Day for the Christian community" .

However, a standoff ensued when a banner inscribed with "Reserve Forest" was put up at the plantation site.

The DFO then agreed to remove the banner and continue the plantation drive but those people coming from the valley for the plantation drive started using abusive and derogatory words which led to a heated argument between the two parties as some of the locals pulled down the banner out of anger and the scuffle broke out, the villager said.

It was also reported that many of them on both sides got minor injuries during the scuffle.

Expressing disappointment over the incident, another villager said that the day was Pentecost Day, an important occasion for Christian community, but the government's ugly policy of grabbing the tribal lands in the name of reserve forest led to an unpleasant situation on their auspicious day.

They also appealed to the state government to release the detained villagers including the aged village chief without any condition to rebuild trust in the government.

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