'Illegal activities root cause for shrinking forest cover'
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 28 2022: While asserting that forest cover in the state has reduced in terms of kilometres mostly due to illegal felling of trees, removal of earth and other unregulated activities, Nongmaiching range forest officer Angom Geetchandra has strongly called for stopping illegal activities in forest area collectively.

Geetchandra took part in a tree plantation drive jointly conducted by Sinam Yum nam Khunou village, Sporting Association Kongba Maru and Kongba Maru Laphamlen Apunba Semgat Lup on the northern side of Kongba Maru sacred site on Sunday.

Speaking to media persons during the tree plantation drive, Geetchandra pointed out that encroachment, -earth quarrying and felling of trees in reserved forest area are against Manipur Forest Act, 1971 and Manipur Land Protection Act, 1986 and those involved in these illegal activities could be punished under the Acts.

However, these illegal activities could be stopped with active involvement of local people and people should shoulder their responsibility in saving environment, he added.

Kongba Maru Laphamlen Apunba Semgat Lup leader Luwangcha Ningthemjao said that it was a good step that forest department conducted a tree plantation drive and many people from different parts of the state came to offer prayer at Kongba Maru on the first day of the Meetei calendar month of Langban.

He also said that the tree plantation drive will help in developing the sacred site into a scenic and tourist attraction spot.

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