National park tag on Shirui hills: Still at proposal stage
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 23 2021: The ambitious undertaking of the Government to declare Shirui hills and its adjacent areas which is home to the State flower Shirui Lily (Lilium Mackliniae) and State bird Nongin (Syrmaticus humiae) as a National park is still at the proposal stage even after the issuance of an order to establish the same almost 4 decades back.

The schedule of this proposed National park was issued on November 25, 1982 by the then Commissioner of Forest.

During the visit at Sihai Khunou in Ukhrul district, Range Officer of Eastern Wildlife Range Ukhrul, Thoiba Thangjam said that the proposed 100 sq kilometer Shirui National Park is classified into two zones - core and eco-sensitive zones .Three villages namely -Shirui village, Sihai and Lunghar are grouped in the core zone while Khamasom and Choithar have been classified as eco-sensitive zones.

National park tag on Shirui hills: Still at proposal stage

Well maintenance of both the zones is crucial to protect the rare flower and the State bird from extinction, he said.

Opining that declaring Shirui hills and its adjacent areas as a National park is a necessity to conserve the rich flora and fauna and the biodiversity of the forest, the RO, however, stated that fast recognition of this park requires a consensus between the Government and the inhabitants of the villages concerned.

Further delay of the declaration process might have severe consequences on the forest, including extinction of the State bird and flower, he added.

Stating that the population of the Shirui lily in its natural habitat during the blooming period is declining, the Range Officer contended that protecting the State bird and State flower should be the responsibility of each and every Manipuri and not just the locals.

On being asked about the initiatives taken up to protect wildlife at this proposed National park, Thoiba informed that the locals ban hunting during the breeding season of Nongin which is usually from February to July and the department has sent a proposal to set up one Nongin Breeding Centre to reinforce conservation of this endangered bird.

As a means to check indiscriminate hunting of wildlife and also to provide a means of livelihood to the locals, the department is encouraging domestication of animals such as piggery, duck farming, poultry etc through local self-help groups and plantation of fruit-bearing trees.

He continued that the department is also considering supplying Mithun to the villagers for breeding.

On the other hand, Thoiba said that the department faces a lot of inconvenience in carrying out annual plan operations for conservation due to late funding.

Village chief of Sihai , Khangra Awungshi Luingam apprised the media team about the measure being taken up to protect wildlife and shared his opinion on the proposed Shirui National Park.

He first said that organising Shirui Festival in Ukhrul doesn't give any financial benefits to the people of Sihai as no tourists visit them because of the bad road conditions and expressed desire for the Government to repair the village road.

He, however, thanked the Forest Department for giving awareness on fire line cutting, plantation of fruit bearing trees etc for the wellbeing of the locals.

He also appealed to the Government to build one museum at Sihai Khullen to preserve and showcase the artifacts left behind by their ancestors.

On being asked about the measures being taken up to regulate hunting, Luingam apprised the media team that hunting is restricted from January to September at Sihai by the village assembly.

Luingam also apprised the media team that the people of Sihai have no objection to the proposed Shirui National Park.

This visit was a part of the 'Know Your Sanctuaries and Wetlands' media campaign of the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) organised under the sponsorship of the Department of Forest and Directorate of Environment and Climate Change.