Come down heavily on plunderers
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: February 13, 2012 -

One of the defining features of Manipur to the outside world for a long time, other than its art and culture, has been nature's bountiful gift.

There was a time when the mere mention of Manipur or for that matter any state in the entire north eastern region conjures up images of lush different hues of green hills and valleys.

But over the years that image is slowly fading, for the valley is no longer so green and the hills for the most part are denuded.

The extend of this loss, which we have been seeing happening in front of our own eyes, now stands confirmed to be quite significant.

In the 2011 report of the Forest Survey of India (FSI) which was submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Manipur earned the notorious distinction of being the number one state which recorded maximum reduction in forest cover.

In the two years under study 2007-2009 by the Dehradun based FSI, Manipur lost a maximum forest cover totaling 190 sq km among the states, and incidentally its neighbor Nagaland did no better, following close behind with reduction in forest cover totaling an area of 146.

This figure assumes significance considering the fact that the overall decline in forest cover for the whole country was just 367 sq km during the same period under study, which means almost the whole of the loss accounted from the north eastern country while states like Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Rajasthan have shown a positive growth in forest cover.

The state government and particularly the Forest Department need to study how other states are being able to increase their forest cover, while a state like Manipur which was so well endowed initially is becoming more and more denuded by the day.

Some of the obvious reason for this reduction are, the burning of the whole hill slope for the practice of Jhum cultivation, encroachment in reserve forest areas, over exploitation of forest resources etc.

While policies need to be framed to wean away farmers from the practice of jhum cultivation by providing incentive to practice more environmentally friendly way of farming, what is needed to combat the rest of the contributing reasons towards deforestation is just an ounce of sincerity among various agencies responsible.

Encroachment in reserve forest area is a common practice in the state with the forest department least bothered to do anything about it, and before you realize a small little village has taken roots over time.

As for the destruction of forest for timber and smuggling it outside the state, despite even the Supreme Court prohibiting movement of forest product outside the whole of the North east, it goes on abated.

And the forest officials and other law enforcing agencies instead of acting against the powerful timber mafia operating in the state are found, in many instances, to be hand in glove with them, happy looting away the natural wealth of the state.

Even today, timber and other finished products products are being smuggled outside the state with impunity.

While there is a need for carrying out extensive aforestation programme to renew our forest area, this alone will never be enough to safeguard the greenery of the state.

What is most required is to come down heavily on those who are plundering our priceless forest products and putting the survival of future generations in jeopardy.

But the question remains, who will do it? Ultimately, it boils down to the need to have at least some persons who has a bit of integrity and sincerity.

For, without such persons, no amount of legislation will be able to stop the savagery against our natural resources.