Forest protection force proposed
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 16 2018:
The State Government has sent a proposal to the Government of India for raising a Forest Protection Force (FPF) in order to protect reserved forest areas of the State and check lumbering and other deforestation activities.
Clarifying to policy cut motions raised by Opposition Members in the course of discussing a demand pertaining to Environment and Forest in the State Assembly today, Forest and Environment Minister Th Shyamkumar said that as per the Indian Forest Act, three Forest Guards should take care of three square Kilometres of reserved forest areas but in Manipur, three Forest Guards have been guarding 24 sq Kms.
Apart from the absence of FPF, the department has been facing acute shortage of manpower.
The State's total reserved forest area and number of reserved forest are 984.25 sq Kms and 39 sq Kms respectively.
There are cases of building houses and possession of Dag Chitha (Patta) inside reserved forest areas unlawfully, Shyamkumar said.
So far, 32 and 53 encroachers have been evicted from Langol reserved forest and Heingang reserved forest respectively.
But there are other encroachers who must be evicted from these and other reserved forest areas.
But the department has been facing certain difficulties as some of these encroachers possess Dag Chitha while some others have filed petitions at Courts.
Nonetheless, boundary pillars have been erected around reserved forest areas so as to protect and promote them.
As per the latest biennial report of the Forest Survey of India, Manipur occupies third position in terms of forest cover against the State's total geographical territory.
Manipur is also placed at the first among the North Eastern States in terms of proper protection of reserved forests, Shyamkumar informed the House.
However, consignments of huge timbers are being taken outside the State through different routes particularly from Ukhrul, Tengnoupal and Chandel districts.
The objective of Forest Department is not restricted to collection of revenue.
Protection of forest areas and wildlife is one primary responsibility of the department.
The department has been working to protect environment while ensuring that royalties of all forest produces reach the State exchequer, Shyamkumar said.
During 2016-17, the department collected Rs 1,10,20,476 as royalty from consignments of 3483.949 cubic metre of timber which passed through the State.
The corresponding figure for 2017-18 (till January) collected as royalty from 3591.96 cubic metre of timber was Rs 4,58,64,961.These timbers were not produces of the State.
They were brought from foreign countries.
There are many timbers impounded by the State Government but they cannot be auctioned at the moment as their sources of origin are being investigated, Shyamkumar said.
With regard to muddying and pollution of Thoubal River, Shyamkumar said that the people of Tumukhong, Moirangpurel and Itham have been facing difficulties as the water of Thoubal River cannot be used any more due to washing of gravels quarried from hill slopes inside the river.
Presently, there is minimal water current in Thoubal River as the dam of Thoubal Multipurpose Project and Thoubal Barrage have been shut.
The little volume of water that flows in the river comes from a couple of ravines.
But the little volume of water flowing through the river has been severely muddied due to quarrying of sand from the river bed using excavators, Shyamkumar said.
Moreover, rearing pigs, construction of latrines on the river banks and disposal of garbage into the river have severely aggravated the pollution level.
The Thoubal DC and the SP have been instructed to take up necessary action so as to check pollution of Thoubal River, said the Forest and Environment Minister.
He further informed the House that a proposal of a Rs 146 crore project has been sent to the Government of India for cleansing Nambul River.
Congress MLAs Th Lokeshwar, K Meghachandra and Kh Joykisan took part in discussing the demand.
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