Every land in state belongs to government: CM
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, July 05 2021: In connection with the week-long celebration of Van Mahotsav across the country, the state government launched a mass tree plantation programme at Mangjol village and Kanglatongbi-Kangpokpi Reserved Forest area under Kangpokpi district on Monday.

Chief minister N Biren led the dignitaries in planting tree saplings as part of the programme organised by the Forest Department.

It was the first ever tree plantation programme taken up in a Reserved Forest area in connection with Van Mahotsav in the state.

Speaking on the occasion, CM Biren maintained that every land in the state belongs to the government and it has the authority to use those lands for purposes which are meant for the development and welfare of its people.

While appealing to the public to cooperate in the development policies and projects taken up by the government and give up the perception that their lands independently belong to them, he said: "We shouldn't be moved by politically and communally provoked thoughts but should have a mind-set of living together with a sense of brotherhood among different communities".

Appreciating the chief and locals of Mangjol village for their support in the tree plantation programme, the chief minister stated that the programme had been taken up as an initiative to restore the natural environment of the region.

Such initiative would help in preventing landslides during the rainy season and also facilitate in storing and supplying of water to the village without additional measures from the water supply department, he added.

Stating that none is authorised to take up any activity, whether construction or destruction, in Reserved Forest areas without the permission of the Forest Department, he asked the encroachers to stop carrying out any activity in the Reserved Forest for their living and approach the government authority for alternative arrangement.

He also instructed the Superintendent of Police of the district and authorities concerned to meet those encroachers and make them aware of the schemes and policies introduced by the government for alternative ways of earning without affecting the forest areas.

With regard to COVID-19, he appealed to the public to get vaccinated and cooperate in the Government's fight against the pandemic.

Forest minister Awangbow Newmai, while delivering his presidential speech, raised concern on the alarming rate of deforestation in the State.

He informed that about 400 square kilometres of forest had been cleared every year and at this rate, the state would lose almost all its forest cover in near future.

He also stressed the need for people's participation in saving forest areas by planting more trees and stopping deforestation as the Forest Department couldn't take up all such activities with its limited manpower.

Stating that unless we save ourselves, there is none to save us, the minister appealed to the public to cooperate and support in mitigating climate change due to environmental degradation.

He also appealed to stop clearing forests for earning their livelihood but to avail welfare schemes of the government which are meant for providing source of livelihood.

In his brief speech, Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba observed that large scale deforestation and environmental degradation must be one of the major factors for certain diseases causing harm to human lives and called upon everybody to stop unnecessary exploitation of forest and to co-exist with nature by preserving it.

He also hailed CM Biren for his initiative to develop both hill and valley regions equally and expressed hope that Manipur would surely take the path of development with better law and order under his leadership.

The people of Mangjol village expressed happiness on the visit of chief minister to their village and appreciated him for his various initiatives to bridge the gap between the hill and valley regions and other development works taken up for the welfare of hill people.

The village chief also submitted a memorandum to the CM which the latter assured to look into compassionately.

Kangpokpi MLA Nemcha Kipgen, additional chief secretary MH Khan, principal chief conservator of Forests & HoFF Dr AK Joshi and other government officials also attended the programme.

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