Kongba Maru hills turned into poppy feld: UKAL
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 06 2021: Umanglai Kanba Apunba Lup (UKAL) has claimed that the Kongba Maru hill range, which is the main source of water for many villages in the valley, has been made completely bare to make way for poppy feld.

As such, the Lup has appealed to the state government and the department concerned to look into the matter.

In a statement issued by its general secretary, UKAL said that deforestation has become rampant in the state due to growing poppy plantations.

The Kongba Maru Laipham is now one such area which has been cleared of for a poppy feld.

As such, many villages whose main source of water is from Kongba Maru is starting to face shortage of water.

Although repeated requests had been made to the authority concerned to look into the matter, no action has been taken up till date.

Tis has raised suspicions whether the departments concerned are in collusion with the people behind the deforestation.

"It is important to put a stop to the ongoing felling of trees which is being carried out to make way for an illegal poppy plantation while there is still time.

Failure to do so could cause a prolonged drought in the state, not to mention about other unwanted incidents which could happen.

Tus, it would be a wise step on the part of the government and the departments concerned to take up necessary steps at the earliest", the Lup contended.

On the other hand, it is highly regrettable that some people had resorted to destroying the sacred shrines and fags atop Mt Koubru as an act of petty revenge.

"Attacking another community's customs and religion is simply an act of provocation.

One should respect the beliefs, customs and traditions of another community.

Tis will be better for all communities and also help in maintaining peace.

Mt Koubru is a sacred place for all indigenous communities of the state, not just for the Meetei community.

It is a matter of huge concern that some groups, which had illegally settled in the area, are frequently causing havoc in the sacred site and doing whatever they want", it remarked.

Demanding the government to demolish all encroachments in Kanglatongbi-Kangpokpi reserved forest area as soon as possible, UKAL further demanded for encompassing Mt Koubru as a protected area under the Historical Monument Act.

It, however, condemned the government for arresting those who uploaded the video of the destroyed shrines atop Koubru on social media platforms, instead of apprehending all those responsible for destroying the shrines in the frst place.

UKAL then appealed to the government to immediately release the arrested person(s) without any condition.

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