COPPK to oppose Reserve Forest plan at Koubru range
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, July 05 2021:
The Committee on Protection and Preservation of Mount Koubru (COPPK) has outrightly rejected and opposed any move to landmark or demarcate areas for Reserve Forest or any developmental program at Mount Koubru unless COPPK, SAHILCA, and other CSOs are taken into confidence or without prior consultation of the same.
This resolution was adopted by the Committee on Protection and Preservation of Mt Koubru, Sadar Hills Chiefs' Association, Kangpokpi District (SAHILCA), Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi, Kuki Students' Organization Sadar Hills, Thadou Inpi Sadar Hills and Thadou Women's Association Sadar Hills yesterday evening in an emergency joint meeting concerning the mass tree plantation and landmarking for Reserved Forest at Mount Koubru range today at L Mangjol village in Kangpokpi district.
The joint emergency meeting had also announced a boycott of the mass tree plantation and Reserved Forest landmarking or demarcation.
The meeting also discussed the issue and took several decisions for the interest of the public, said a press communique jointly signed Thanglensei Kipgen, Chairman COPPK, Lamtinthang Haokip, secretary COPPK, and Haokholen Kipgen, vice president SAHILCA.
According to the statement, the COPPK, SAHILCA, all CSOs and entire inhabitants of Mount Koubru range do warmly welcome and appreciate any Government programs to restore, protect and preserve the eco-system and bio-diversity of Mount Koubru and will keep supporting any effort in future too.
It, however, stated that the Government must, in letter and spirit, honor the "Gentlemen Agreement (Status Quo on Mount Koubru)" inked between the COPPK and representatives of the Government on April 20, 2021 .
While welcoming, supporting and appreciating the initiatives of the Government, any move for landmarking or demarcation for Reserved Forest or any developmental programs at Mount Koubru is out-rightly rejected and opposed tooth and nail until and unless the COPPK, SAHILCA and other CSOs are taken into confidence or without prior consultation of the same.
"Despite our efforts to meet on the issue for the past months, the Chief Minister has turned a blind-eye till today and as a matter of fact, considering all the above matters and to show our strong resentment, we unanimously declare to boycott the mass tree plantation and landmarking at Mount Koubru range", it stated.
The COPPK had also directed all the chief, public leaders and common people to abstain from the same for the sole interest of the district.