Van Mahotsav celebrated in Bpr, Thoubal
Source: Chronicle News Service
Bpr/Tbl, July 06 2021:
Bishnupur Forest Division celebrated the 72nd Van Mahotsav at its office in coordination with clubs and organisations of the district and planted scores of tree saplings on Tuesday.
Bishnupur ADM H Bobby Sharma, DfO Dr Rebika Soi-bam and additional SP (LO) Luikham Lanmiyo attended the event as chief guest, functional president and guest of honour respectively.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Rebika, while noting that people oriented works cannot be executed successfully without the coordination of the public, called upon people of the district to make Bishnupur a green district.
Hills on the eastern side of Bishnupur district belong to Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts and hence poppy cultivation in these hills cannot be stopped, she said, adding that dispute often occur in land use policy as recognition of village authorities are done beyond Forest Act in the country including Manipur.
The earlier practice of indiscriminate felling of trees has reduced to some extent due to awareness spread by forest department, she said and maintained that lack of rain in monsoon season is result of deforestation.
Dr Rebika further said that steps would be initiated soon to close down saw mills and stone crushers opened in different parts of the Bishnupur against the law as all the products they use originate from hills.
The main responsibility of forest department is to save and protect hills, lake and rivers, she said and stressed the need for planting more trees for the sake of future generations to come.
Delivering the key note address, Range Forest Officer Bishnupur Ratan Singh said that the forest division along with Joint Forest Management Committee and clubs and organisations have been celebrating Van Mahotsav since July 1 and have so distributed around 1 lakh saplings for plantation at different parts of the district.
There is an unbreakable relationship between humans and trees as oxygen inhaled by humans is produced by trees, he reminded, while calling upon the people to plant more trees and take care of the planted saplings till they are fully grown.
Meanwhile, in Thoubal district, Yaripok forest beat office celebrated the 72nd Van Mahotsav and planted different varieties of saplings along both sides of Pechi road on Tuesday.
The tree plantation drive under the aegis of Thoubal Forest Division was conducted in coordination with Pechi Youth Club.
Thoubal Forest Division DFO Th Lokendro, who attended the event, said that around two lakh saplings will be planted during the 72nd Van Mahotsav celebration at different places under the division's Thoubal Range and Kakching Range and Tuesday's tree plantation drive at Pechi was also part of this effort.
The event was also attended by SDPO (Yairipok) K Dhananjoy, Range Officer Thoubal S Samungou, Yairipok BO M Biren, Mayai Keithel BO N Dhananjoy, Heirok BO L Boby, Wildlife Warden Thoubal W Ramchandra and Pechi Youth Club members.