Loktak won't survive sans collective efforts: CM
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 26 2019:
Expressing deep apprehension that Loktak Lake may not survive long if the present trend of siltation continues any longer, Chief Minister N Biren today assured on the floor of the State Assembly that the Government would ensure smooth and effective cooperation between the Manipur State Wetland Authority and the Loktak Development Authority in order to protect and preserve Loktak Lake.
With the rapid decline in forest cover, soil erosion has been rising alarmingly and the soils thus eroded are being deposited in Loktak Lake by many rivers.
As such, Loktak Lake is becoming shallower every year.
If dedicated and collective efforts are not invested, Loktak Lake will not survive long, Biren stated.
The Government has been working to replace firewood used in brick kilns with coal and jhum cultivation with plantation of Agar and Lemon Grass so as to check the rampant deforestation activities.
The Government has been working on a comprehensive plan to wean away hill people from jhum cultivation to other sources of livelihood.
A committee would be set up to look into the pollution of Thoubal River, the Chief Minister told the House.
Raising a policy cut motion while discussing a demand pertaining to Forest and Environment, Fazur Rahim said that prices of timber have been hiked multiple times during the last couple of years and timber dealers have been blaming 'exorbitant' taxes collected by Forest Department for the steep rise in timber prices.
It is said that the Forest and Environment Minister has been collecting taxes through his agents on betel nuts imported through Moreh, betel leaves and the Minister has even stationed one of his men from Yairipok Yambem at Imphal airport to collect taxes, Fazur Rahim alleged.
He went on to say that one or two men of Andro AC are stationed at every Forest office for collecting taxes.
K Meghachandra said that new saw mills are being setup at different places across the State in total defiance of the Supreme Court's prohibition and this would only lead to over exploitation of forest resources.
Govindas Konthoujam said that some unauthorized people have been collecting taxes on forest produces.
Even though the State's law and order situation has improved remarkably, all the staff of LDA including the Director are functioning from Lamphel.
As such, the Government couldn't learn in time when huts are built on phumdis and roads are constructed in several parts of Loktak Lake, Govindas said.
Even though Rs 85 crore was sanctioned for plantation of trees in the surrounding areas of Loktak Lake, no one has any idea where the money has been spent, decried Govindas adding that the present LDA Director is unfit for the post.
Th Joykisan asked whereabouts of the huge quantity of logs seized by Forest Department from Moreh in the past and also details of the individuals involved in smuggling the logs.
Saying that the Minister concerned assured to provide a detailed report on the matter during the last Assembly session, Joykisan decried that no report has been tabled on the matter till date.
Dr Chaltonlien Amo, D Korungthang and Surjakumar Okram too took part in discussing the demands.
Responding to the policy cut motions, Forest and Environment Minister Th Shyamkumar said that even though the Forest Act 1948 says that Forest Department should be the licensing authority for saw mills, the same authority has not been transferred to the department from Commerce and Industries Department.
As such, Forest Department has no power to take up any action against saw mills.
Some youngsters have been hired as per requirement of Forest Department but they are not authorised to collect taxes in the name of the department, Shyamkumar said.
Denying the allegation that some people from Andro AC have been collecting taxes on forest produces, the Minister appealed to all Members to give evidence if they come across any such illegal and unauthorized activity.
The DCs of Bishnupur and Imphal West districts have been asked to submit reports on the people who have been occupying different parts of Loktak Lake.
Necessary actions would be initiated once the reports are received, Shyamkumar said.
The Bishnupur DC has also been instructed to look into the controversy surrounding development of Thinungei Bird Sanctuary.
Local MLAs would also be consulted on the matter, he said.
He informed the House that Forest and Environment Department collected revenue of Rs 3.71 crore in 2015-16, Rs 6.25 crore in 2016-17, Rs 23.49 crore in 2017-18 and Rs 12 crore in 2018-19 (till January).
He said that revenue collection has declined this year as the royalty levied on bamboo has been withdrawn.
The department also collected revenue of Rs 24 lakh from betel nuts and Rs 1.20 crore from betel leaves but there is no case of collection of tax by the department at the airport, Shyamkumar said.
He also brought a copy of a DO letter written by Md Fazur Rahim and given to a truck driver so as to evade arrest while transporting logs/timber from Moreh.
Soon after, a heated argument ensued between the MLA and the Minister on the DO letter and they were later pacified by the Speaker.
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