Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 30:
Massive deforestation at Koubru hill is the main culprit of the recent landslide at Koubru hill top which has devastated villages near Keithelmanbi.
This conclusion was drawn after a fact finding team comprising of Deputy Commissioner, Senapati, Vivek Dewangan, IAS, Superintendent of Police, Senapati, Samir Ilme, IPS and C.O 14 Assam Rifles, Col.G.S.Bedi went on foot on July 29 from Haipi village to Phoibung and reached the actual place of land slide on the Koubru hill top.
In a statement Vivek Dewangan, DC Senapati maintained that the natural calamity in Keithelmanbi was found to be massive deforestation at Koubru hill by the villagers in nearby hills.
He said that massive deforestation, cutting of trees and conservation of soil was not sustained and heavy rain caused the land slide along with mud slide on top of Koubru hill on the night of July 10 and 11.On their return the team passed through Gopibung, Parsain and Keithelmanbi villages on foot and held meetings with surrounding villages, Vivek said.
The meeting after minute discussion decided to conduct a medical camp along with distribution of rice to the affected families on August 4 at Keithelmanbi and August 5 at Bungmol village.
It was also decided to take up awareness campaign and massive afforestation programme under the banner "save ecology, save environment and save land slide".
In this regard all District Level Officers in the district will take up a joint tour programme on August 2 at Tadubi Block HQ and then night halt in Paomata/Tungjoy.
This would be followed by "Run for save ecology, save land slide" to be concluded by tree plantation by DLOs, Village Authorities, public leaders, NGOs and school children.
Similarly, the joint tour programme will be held at Saitu Gamphazol Block on Aug 7.As part of the tour programme, �run for save ecology� will be organized at Kangpokpi playground on August 10 to be sponsored by 14 Assam Rifles.