Minister Biswajit launches 'Save Singda Movement'
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 16 2022:
Apart from launch ing 'Save Singda Movement', forest minister Th Biswajit Singh has said that mass tree plantation drive at catchment areas of different rivers and dams of the state had already begun.
'Save Singda Movement' is a participatory mass tree plantation drive of the forest department in Singda catchment area to be carried out in coordination with stakeholders of different sectors.
Apart from forest minister Th Biswajit, the launch event was also attended by additional chief secretary (forest & environment) MI Khan, principal chief conservator of forests Ak Joshi, chief conservator of forest L Jaykumar and other officials of forest department and forest guards.
Regarding the campaign, minister Biswajit said the forest department has identified catchment areas of rivers and dams where mass tree plantation drives will be conducted.
In addition the plantation drive around Singda catchment area, more such drives will be conducted atop Koubru, Thangjing and other catchment areas and programmes for the same had already been chalked out.
Under the guidance of chief minister N Biren, the target of planting around 78 lakh saplings has been set while forest department alone is targeting to plant more than 1 crore saplings, he said and appealed to CSOs, clubs and NGOs to join in the participatory mass tree plantation drive initiated by the government.
While appealing to people of both hills and valley to shoulder their responsibility in preserving ecology by planting trees, Biswajit said there should not be differentiation of government or private lands in planting trees as it is for future generation.
He also said that drones will be utilised to identify forest cover, number of saplings to be planted and check whether planted saplings grow or not.
According to Biswajit, time has come for the people to think deeply on poppy plantation which not only affects environment but also poses threat to the future generation.
He also said that state government has declared 'War against Drugs' and initiated various steps to uproot drugs and prevent poppy plantation.