COPPK toughens stand, Liangmai bodies cheer
Source: Chronicle News Service / NNN
Kpi/Imphal, July 05 2021:
Committee on Protection and Preservation of Mount Koubru (COPPK) has said that it out-rightly rejects and opposes tooth and nail any move for land-marking or demarcation of reserved forest or taking up any developmental programme at Mount Koubru unless COPPK, SAHILCA and other CSOs are taken into confidence or without prior consultation for the same.
This resolution was adopted joint by the Committee, Sadar Hills Chiefs' Association, Kangpokpi District (SAHILCA), Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi, Kuki Students' Organization Sadar Hills, Thadou Inpi Sadar Hills and Thadou Women's Association Sadar Hills during an emergency joint meeting held Sunday evening at L Mangjol village in Kangpokpi district concerning the move of mass tree plantation and Reserved Forest land-marking at Mount Koubru range.
The joint emergency meeting also announced boycott of the mass tree plantation and Reserved Forest land-marking or demarcation.
The meeting discussed the issue and took several decisions in the interest of the common public, said a press communique jointly signed by Thanglensei Kipgen, Chairman COPPK; Lamtinthang Haokip, Secretary COPPK and Haokholen Kipgen, Vice President SAHILCA.
According to the statement, COPPK, SAHILCA, all CSOs and entire inhabitants of Mount Koubru range do warmly welcome and appreciate any government programmes to restore, protect and preserve the eco-system and bio-diversity of Mount Koubru and will keep supporting any efforts in future too.
It, however, stated that the government must, in letter and spirit, honour the "Gentlemen Agreement (Status Quo on Mount Koubru)" inked between COPPK and representatives of the government on April 20, 2021."Despite our efforts to meet on the issue for the past months, the state Chief Minister turned a blind-eye till today and as a matter of fact, considering all the above matters and to show our strong resentment, we unanimously declared to boycott the mass tree plantation and land-marking at Mount Koubru range", it stated.
COPPK had also directed all the chiefs, public leaders and common people to abstain from the same in the sole interest of the district, the statement said.
Meanwhile, Liangmai Naga Council (LNC), Liangmai Naga Council, Eastern Zone (LNC-EZ), Eastern Liangmai Chief Chairman Association (ELCCA) and Ahangruak Chief Chairman Association (ACCA) have congratulated and complimented chief minister N Biren Singh and forest minister Awangbow Newmai for successfully conducting the 72nd Van Mahotsav celebration under the theme 'Plant Trees, Plant Future' on the Kanglatongbi- Kangpokpi Reserved Forest, Koubru Range.
The Liangmai organisations also participated in the celebration and planted a number of trees at the site.
They said that the thick virgin forest has been depleted by human activities of rampant destruction of forests for Jhum cultivation, logging and even poppy plantation in the KK Reserve Forest, Kou-bru Mountain Range.
Such unwanted activities in the ecologically sensitive zone are causing catastrophic climate changes in recent years, said the Liangmai bodies.
The worst consequence of these activities is that scores of rivers which have their originating sources and catchment areas from Koubru Mountain Range feeding thousands of people living in the foothills and also plain areas have begun to dry up posing an imminent severe water crisis in the state.
The Liangmai organisations then said that the initiative taken up by the Government of Manipur on the occasion of 72nd Van Mahotsav 2021 will ensure spread of awareness on importance of tree plantation and forest conservation.
This act will certainly create enthusiasm among the masses to save the environment and give back the Koubru Range the lush green forest, the organisations added.
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