Forest Minister contradicts Dy CM's tally on revenue collection House okays four demands
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 29 2017:
The Manipur Legislative Assembly today passed four separate demands amounting to Rs 374,10,08,000 .
The demands passed today were for Information and Publicity (Rs 18,65,33,000), Cooperation (Rs 23,35,74,000), Environment and Forest (Rs 193,29,15,000) and Commerce & Industries (138,69,86,000) .
While discussing the demands, Environment and Forest Minister Th Shyamkumar contradicted Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar's claim that Rs 9 crore was collected as forest revenue during the first quarter of the current fiscal year.
Shyamkumar said that Rs 6.31 crore was collected during the same quarter .
The department has initiated due process to evict people who are residing within reserved forest areas with Dag Chitha (land holding document) .
Strict instructions have been issued to ensure that saplings planted during Vanmahotsav celebrations grow and flourish, Shyamkumar said .
The work of planting trees on road sides and medians would be done by Forest Department alone.
The Chief Minister would be consulted to set up forest protection force for effective protection of reserved forests .
After a long gap, the Wetland and Water Body Conservation Committee headed by the Chief Minister as chairman would hold a meeting after the Assembly session .
A portion of the Keibul Lamjao National Park which is the only natural home to endangered Sangai has been fenced.
Meanwhile, the total population of Sangai in the park has reached 260, Shyamkumar informed the House .
It needs coordinated efforts of Forest Department and Horticulture Department to wean away people from jhum cultivation in view of its disastrous impacts on environment and ecology .
With regard to appointment of 24 Rangers in Forest Department, Th Shyamkumar said that they were appointed directly by the department without involving MPSC in accordance with a Cabinet decision of the previous Government.