ADAM seeks Chief Minister's attention to check indiscriminate land excavation at Angaan Ching Eco Park
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 24 2022: The Alliance for Development Alternatives Manipur (ADAM), Kakching has sought the attention of the Chief Minister to check on the indiscriminate land excavation at Angaan Ching Eco Park (Mahadeva hill), Kakching and requested to initiate compensatory afforestation as per existing Forest laws.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, the Co-ordinator of the Management Committee, Angaan Ching Eco Park and Secretary, ADAM Kakching, Surjit Kshetrimayum appealed to the Chief Minister to acknowledge the hard works put in by many for years to make the once barren hill into a green zone.

Accordingly he requested to look into the matter and instruct the officials concerned for a proper assessment of the (environmental) damages caused and initiate steps for Compensatory Afforestation works in the nearby area to make up the forest lost due to the "Eco-tourism Destination Project as per FCA-1980 & The Environment (Protection) Act 1986" and also protect the Angaan Ching Eco Park, Kakching in public interest and for the future of humanity.

The letter mentioned that ADAM, Kakching has been taking up various plantation work since 2002 and set up the ecological park namely Angaan Ching Eco Park at Kakching with the help and support from the public.

It went on to inform that the regular Sunday Eco Club activities attended mostly by the students largely helped in restoring the forest cover of this once barren hill into a greenery zone.

Further, considering the strategic geographical location of this portion of the hill range, the Expert Committee set up by the Government of Manipur recommended the development the Angaan Ching Eco Park, Kakching as one of the promising eco-tourism spots.

Many dignitaries from within and outside the country have also paid visit to the Park and penned encouraging comments in the Visitors' Register kept at the Angaan Ching Open Air Library, the first of its kind in Manipur, it added.

With regards to the Tourism Department, Government of Manipur decision to develop the Eco-tourism Destination Project in respect of Kakching A/C at Angaan Ching, ADAM and the Management Committee, Angaan Ching Eco Park readily agreed to spare the required portion of land out of the area they have been managing so far for the said project with the hope that the project would definitely fill up the infrastructure requirements without much affect to the existing eco-system wherever possible.

Unfortunately, the unsystematic and indiscriminate land excavation in the name of eco-tourism project without any Environment Impact Assessment have destroyed the natural beauties that they have nurtured for years and is in contrary to the principles of Sustainable tourism and in violation of the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), 1980, he lamented.

He further informed that a series of letters have already been written to concerned authorities including DC, Kakching on the matter of proper demarcation of the land covered by the Angaan Ching Eco Park, Kakching through a joint survey of Forest and Revenue Departments in public interest but so far nothing concrete has been initiated.

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