Make pact between COPPK, ministers public: FoH
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 12 2021:
Pointing out that minister Letpao Haokip invited leaders of Committee on Protection of Mt Koubru (COPPK) at his official residence on April 20 and signed a four-point agreement in the presence of forest minister Awangbow Newmai, Federation of Haomee (FoH) demanded the ministers to make public the agreement by May 20 or resign from their respective ministerial posts.
Addressing a press meet at its office here on Wednesday, Federation's publicity secretary Dr Leishemba Mangang said that Mount Koubru is inseparable from the indigenous people of Manipur and it is the duty of every indigenes to protect and conserve it.
Attempt to destroy its identity and eco-system is a challenge to the society.
For long some groups of people, who do not know the history of Koubru, have been attempting to lay ownership claim on the hill range, he said while demanding all concerned to stop such attempts immediately.
At the same time, the two ministers have no right to make any agreement on Koubru without consulting the public, the indigenous people who are the owner of Koubru, Leishemba Mangang said.
He also challenged the integrity of the forest minister while alleging him of turning a blind eye to destructions caused in the reserved forest areas by different activities like planting poppy, settlement, deforestation, setting wildfire and killing wildlife.
The present state of Koubru has changed tremendously from the past.
It has become a bald hill range and COPPK, which is supporting such activities, has no right to speak on Mt Koubru, he said.
He then expressed hope that the state government will understand the public sentiment on Mt Koubru and act accordingly.