MLA Ram Muivah hopes to rejuvenate Shirui hills
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, July 10 2023: How does one truly rejuvenate a degrading forest? It is not merely a question of planting a few trees but also of making sustained efforts to re-create it.

Shirui Kashong is a case in point and Ukhrul MLA Ram Muivah is hoping to achieve exactly that.

On Monday, the MLA was present as chief guest for the launch of the two-day mass plantation held at Vokngayar, Shirui village, as part of the 74th Van Mahotsav celebration.

He hoped that mass planta-tion will galvanise the entire community into an action and will help re-create the Shirui Kashong forest.

Speaking on the occasion, Muivah informed that the mass plantation was a way to re-store Shirui forest to its natural beauty in order to make it a tourist attraction.

"It is in an effort to restore Shirui to its former glory that the mass plantation was initi-ated here," he said.

"Shirui Kashong is one of the few alpine forests in Ukhrul district and is a part of the Tangkhul's rich cultural her-itage, clearly evident in folk songs," he continued, adding that Kashong used to be a thick forest with rich flora and fauna.

Unfortunately, years of tree- felling has resulted in the depletion of water sources from the hills, he lamented.

Sharing his concern over the degrading forest, he said that it was high time people made conscious effort to conserve the environment and to actual-ly revive the entire ecosystem.

The MLA said that the once thriving alpine forest has suf-fered from deforestation that has resulted in the depletion of water sources from the hills.

By initiating mass plantation initiatives in the Shirui vil-lage and Ukhrul town, Muivah hoped to encourage locals to participate in programmes that will promote reforestation.

He went on to state that as Kashong is the main source of water for Ukhrul town, so it is imperative that the forest should be restored.

According to Shirui head-man Soyo Wungsek, the com-plete rejuvenation of a forest is a long-term process.

He sought involvement of MLA concerned, district admin-istration, DLOs , CSOs in the whole process.

The launch programme was also attended by Ukhrul dep-uty commissioner Zuringla Kengoo, DFO Shanngam Shali, additional SP Ringthing Hong-chui, Autonomous District Council (ADC), Ukhrul CEO David Kashungnao and others.

The dignitaries led by Ram Muivah also planted tree sap-lings at the foot of the Kashong hills to mark the launch of the plantation.

Similar plantation will be held in Ukhrul town on Tuesday.

According to the Forest De-partment, it has set a target for planting a total of 1000 saplings during the celebration week.

Of which around 400 saplings were planted at Shirui hills on the first day.

The Van Mahotsav, the festi-val of forests, which was held under the theme "Each one, Plant one, Stop the chop", was a part of a weeklong na-tion-wide campaign to plant trees and restore green cover.

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