PFA on construction of diversion bridge at Mongba Hanba
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 06 2014:
Reiterating that development should not go against the efforts for environment protection, People for Animals (PFA), Thoubal has appealed to the people to discuss and understand the issue of construction of a diversion bridge at the forest site of Mongba Hanba in Imphal East district.
In a statement, PFA said that construction of bridge at Mongba Hanba forest is against the provisions of Indian Forest Act and Supreme Court order dated 12th December 1996 .
Saying that development sometimes comes in the way of environment protection and it has members belonging to all religions, PFA affirmed that it does not obstruct the activities pertaining to development of any religion.
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Following the construction of Sanjenthong bridge, commuters on both sides of the Imphal river have faced inconveniences, it said, while adding that it is imperative to have a diversion bridge, besides accelerating the construction works on Sanjenthong.
However, the issue here is the construction of a diversion bridge at the site of Mongba Hanba forest, it said, and appealed all to ponder over issues like benefits of the bridge, suitability of the sites and future impacts on environment.
Besides increased convenience of commuters, the diversion bridge would bring more development of the existing religious site.
However, there are negative impacts, as there are positive ones, it added.
Well before the construction of the bridge, the sounds of excavation works and cutting down of trees rendered a number of monkeys to be displaced from the forest.
At first, news of intrusion of monkeys at the office of Disaster Management under Manipur government reached the Zoo.
Next day, four monkeys were reported to be straying on the Over-bridge, which later reached Sagolband area, PFA informed.
Even police personnel came to control the situation.
Traps were created by Zoo staff and PFA volunteers to catch the monkeys, but today, the monkeys are no more seen, it lamented, adding it is for sure that the monkeys have fallen to the stomach of the human beings.
Although there were four monkeys straying earlier in old High Court campus near Classic hotel, nowadays only one is seen at the place and a woman is presently feeding it, according to the PFA statement.
Animals and birds help in pollination and seed dispersal of various plants.
Besides preventing deforestation, the Indian forest Act prohibits all kinds of activities harmful to animals and plants, it continued.