15 hectares of poppy cultivation destroyed in Kangpokpi district
Source: Chronicle News Service

Kangpokpi, January 16 2023: In continuation of the government s effort to eradicate illegal poppy cultivation and to make Manipur free of drugs, Kangpokpi Forest Department along with district police destroyed around 15 hectares of illegal poppy cultivation at two different locations under Kangpokpi Forest Division, here, on Monday.

In connection with the drives, range forest officer (RFO)/headquarters, Kangpokpi Forest Division, informed that the destruction of poppy cultivation was conducted along the hill ranges of Harup Naga village under T Waichong sub-division and Mongjang village under Saikul sub-division under Kangpokpi Forest Division.

The teams comprising Kangpokpi Forest Department and district police were led by RFO, Kangpokpi Range and Motbung Range.

In all, 4.23 hectares of illegal poppy cultivation were destroyed in Harup Naga village and 10.12 hectares in Mongjang village, while FIRs and PORs were filed against the cultivators and legal action taken up as per the law.

The RFO stated that poppy plants were found cultivated inside the notified forest areas which is in clear violation of the rules and regulations laid down by the government to protect forest areas, while adding that as per the Indian Forest Act, 1972 (read with Manipur Forest Rules, 2021) breaking up of land for non-forestry purposes in forest areas of the state amounts to trespassing and encroachment into government protected forest land which is clear violations of the rules.

As such, any person found to have committed such illegal activities is punishable with imprisonment for a term that may extend up to six months, with a fine, or with both, in addition to such compensation for damage done to the forest as the conviction court may direct to pay, conveyed the RFO, Headquarters.

On the other hand, divisional forest officer, Kangpokpi Forest Division, N Ganesh warned that strict action will be taken against those indulging in such illegal cultivation and the village chiefs under whose village jurisdiction such illegal cultivation is found will be dealt with severely as per law.

DFO Kangpokpi Forest Division also appealed to the public to refrain from indulging in such illegal activities and help the government in its effort to nab those responsible.

He also reiterated that besides being a clear violation of the rules laid down by the government, poppy cultivation is a serious threat to the environment.

He continued that uncontrolled and injudicious deforestation and use of chemical fertilisers liberally without any thought of its impact on health and the environment in the upland slopes affect not only the environment but also pose serious health hazard to those living in the surrounding areas as the chemical or fertilisers dissolve in the water and make it unfit for consumption.

The DFO also encouraged the public to inform the department concerned if they have any leads on the illegal activity arid to join hands in making the 'War on Drugs' campaign a success, while adding that it is our collective and individual responsibility to look after, protect and preserve the environment.

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