Forest Minister inaugurates Ringui Community Reserve Land at Ukhrul
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Ukhrul, September 13 2018: Forest and Environment Minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar today inaugurated Ringui community reserve land at Ringui village in Ukhrul district, located around 60 kms from Imphal.

The function was organised by Ringui Horei and Ringui Village Authority.

Th Shyamkumar in his speech as the chief guest of the function stated that the Forest Department is committed to saving the environment.

The department respects and appreciates the Ringui villagers who have donated 600 hectares land for conserving the forest, he said.

He urged people in the hills to conserve and preserve the environment - forests, lakes and rivers.

"We should remove the concept of harming or killing birds and animals as the onus of conserving the forest and wildlife lies on us.

The department is visiting nooks and corners of the State to create awareness on environmental conservation and combat the climate change which is the biggest threat faced by the world today," he said.

He appreciated the villagers for making Ringui village a plastic free village.

He appealed to the villagers of Ringui to approach the neighbouring villagers and urged them to donate land for forest conservation.

Kereilhouvi Angami, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, Forest Department, Government of Manipur said that the department led by the dynamic leader have achieved a lot of things which were never achieved before in the State.

He said that the Minister is concerned for the welfare of the people and said that the Forest Department under his leadership will support initiatives of the Ringui villagers to protect, preserve and conserve the forest.

AC Tamyo, convener, Ringui Horei said that the Ringui village has a relevance with the history of the State and added that the village was once abundant with teak trees and it was home to the migratory hornbills.

He said that the Ringui Horei (committee) has been working on soil, forest and water management since 2016.The villagers had declared Ringui village a plastic free place in the early part of this year and instituted an official dumping site, which is the first and the only dumping site located in the Ukhrul district, he said.

Stating that the Ringui Horei has been taking up various cleanliness programmes apart from tree plantation drive, he said that 7,000 saplings were planted this year and is continuing the tree plantation drive.

He said that the forests of the area are major contributors of the Thoubal river and he pointed out the importance of conserving the forest.

He said that he Ringui Horei is planning to expand the community forest reserve area to 15 kms by 2025.He sought support from the State Government in implementing various schemes in reviving the forests in the area.

He sought assistance from the concerned department in introducing organic ferming in the village.

He informed that the village contributes at least 50 percent of cabbages in Imphal apart from other vegetables.

As part of the function, a CD containing a song on Ringui village was also released and a documentary was also shown.

Land donors of the Ringui community reserve land were felicitated and the dignitaries planted trees at the event.

The function was also attended by officials of the Forest Department, Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department and villagers of Ringui village.

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