School children walk to save Angaan Ching Eco-Park
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 05 2023: School children took out a rally at Kakching today to save Angaan Ching Eco-Park and conserve the environment.

Holding placards, the children staged the rally in and around the park and raised several slogans seeking the attention of the State Government to save the park.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the Alliance for Development Alternatives-Manipur (ADAM), Management Committee Angaan Ching Eco-Park and all stakeholders was also held and it strongly condemned "destructive activities" taken up in the area of the park in the name of "Eco Tourism Destination Project" .

Also, the meeting denounced allegations raised against ADAM and stakeholders of the park accusing them of encroaching on the land.

School children walk to save Angaan Ching Eco-Park

While the Angaan Ching Eco Park, Kakching is now an important asset for the State of Manipur and its role in biodiversity conservation and promotion of eco-tourism is of great significance, some portion of the park on the northern side have been destroyed in the name of Eco-Tourism Destination Project, said Alliance for Development Alternatives-Manipur (ADAM) .

Notably, Elangbam Valentina, the brand Ambassador of Chief Minister's Green Manipur Mission, said trees she planted on World Poetry Day 2021 at the Angaan Ching Eco-Park have been destroyed in the excavation of soil for building a shed for the "Eco Tourism Destination Project" .

Valentina said she is sad that many trees and saplings planted by many have been destroyed.

It may be noted here that Valentina, then a 9-year-old girl in 2019 had inconsolably cried when she saw trees she cared for fell.

The video of the girl crying went viral on social media and she was later named Chief Minister's Green Ambassador.

When the whole world is talking about sustainable development and the State Government under the able leadership of N Biren Singh is taking up an all-out efforts to save the forest and promote eco-tourism in the State, unfortunately, some portion of the Angaan Ching Eco-Park on the northern side have been destroyed in the name of Eco-Tourism Destination Project, developed with funds from the Tourism Department in "violation" of the principle of sustainable tourism, said ADAM.

Moreover, it is quite surprising and unfortunate that an MLA has made an "unfounded allegation" against the leadership of ADAM, Kakching in a letter sent to the Chief Minister, it said.

"We consider it unfortunate and a deliberate attempt to mislead the Hon'ble CM and sabotage the Angaan Ching Eco Park movement for his own personal interest" .

ADAM and its leadership have been accused of encroaching on the land.

There is no question of "illegal encroachment of land by ADAM Kakching or its secretary Kshetrimayum Surjit" as allegedly claimed by the MLA, said ADAM members.

The Angaan Ching Eco Park, established by the ADAM, Kakching in an area about 105 acres at Revenue village No 57 Kakching Khullen covered by CS Dag No 189 under the jurisdiction of Kakching Municipal Council in Wabagai Assembly Constituency since the year 2001-02 has become a prominent centre for biodiversity conservation and eco-tourism, said ADAM.

The alliance has been organising Sunday Eco Club activities every Sunday morning at the Park since 2004 and moreover, the Kakching Municipal Council (KMC) had also issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) in 2005 encouraging environmental conservation activities in the area.

The ADAM Environment Award (biennial) instituted in 2006 had also encouraged individuals/groups working for protection and conservation of environment.

With the support and cooperation from all sections, this once barren hill called Angaan Ching, also known as Mahadeva Ching was converted into a greenery zone in the form of Angaan Ching Eco Park.

The park was also recommended as one of the promising sites for eco-tourism by the State of Environment Report-2006 on the basis of its strategic geographical location and many prominent personalities from within and outside the country have also visited the park.

The establishment of Angaan Ching Open Air Library with the help and support from the public on 20/12/2020 is the first of its kind in Manipur and the initiative of Memorial Tree Plantation got positive response from people of all strata, it said.

The Angaan Ching Eco Park has a number of infrastructure like the "Potthashang" installed by the Youth & Social Development Organisation (YSDO), a group of 1979 Matric Batch of Kakching High School, "Phambakshang" and "Meetyengpham" installed with the financial support from the Directorate of Environment & Climate Change, Government of Manipur.

The park also has a tube-well (submersible pump) installed by the Minor Irrigation Department, Government of Manipur, infrastructure support for the Open Library & 6 concrete benches installed by the CGST, Imphal, swing & slider for children by the Bank of Baroda, memorial blocks and complexes namely Gulapyaima & Noutana Memorial Complex, Dr Naorem Achouba Memorial Block, Dr Thingnam Kishan Memorial Block, Kshetrimayum Irabot Memorial Complex, Hiroshima & Nagasaki Memorial Complex SATHOULUP Complex, Macha Chanu Complex, SBI Block etc among others.

All these infrastructure are a clear indication of cooperation and support for the Angaan Ching Eco Park from both the public and private sectors as well, said ADAM and added that all the Deputy Commissioners posted in Kakching district since its inception in 2016 have visited the park and taken part in the tree plantation programmes in solidarity with the green movement.

In fact, Angaan Ching Eco Park, Kakching is now an important asset for the State of Manipur and its role in biodiversity conservation and promotion of eco-tourism will be of great significance globally, said ADAM.

Regarding the Eco Tourism Destination Project, ADAM said according to official records available, the area where construction took place by destroying the fully grown plants followed by "indiscriminate" hill soil excavation is "contradictory" to the actual area/land use permitted.

The area of the land actually permitted is only about .70 acres, claimed ADAM.

Again, it's very "confusing" to find a letter dated 28th December 2022 of the AS&SO Kakching where the Angaan Ching Eco Park, Kakching which has been in existence for more than 20 years was found listed as an encroacher.

A copy of the letter ADAM provided shows it (ADAM) and "Angan Ching Eco-Tourism" listed as encroachers.

ADAM and representatives of all stakeholders who have been working for the establishment of Angaan Ching Eco Park for a greener and sustainable future strongly condemn the "false allegations", it said and urged the Government to take up necessary measures for protection and promotion of the park for the future of humanity.