Source: Hueiyen News Service / Amukhomba Ngangbam
Imphal, December 10 2010:
Trees planted by the state government in the reserved forest area of Nongmaiching hill are being illegally felled.
Knowing fully the facts, the state government has not taken any necessary actions to stop this illegal felling of trees.
Under the Manipur Forest Rules, 1972 felling of trees from reserved forest areas is a punishable offence.
However, the forest department instead of taking action is busy in collecting quarry and royalty taxes from vehicles carrying stone and sand loads.
On report of illegal felling of trees in the area, Hueiyen Lanpao went to inspect and found many trees planted by the state government in 1990 had been felled in Angourok, Sagollok, Awangching and Kangamdabi areas.
Those guilty of the act are transporting the logs at night for commercial and private use.
Many have earned huge amount of money by selling the logs.
Some are collecting oil from Uchan trees by cutting half of the stem.
Many of such trees have dried up.
Local people of Keirao, Langdum, Uran Chiru, Yaipharok Maring Khul have indulged in felling of the trees.
The forest department or the Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC) has remained unmoved, said a villager.
It may be mentioned that the duty of protecting the reserved forest lies with the Forest Beat Office at Irilbung and JFMC, Keirao.
According to Deputy Ranger (HQ), Forest Department, I Premkumar, forest officials find it difficult to control the illegal felling of trees as forest officials have not been issued arms and they face threats from the people who are illegally felling the trees.
There have been many instances in the past when forest officials were killed while trying to protect the reserved forest.
The department had informed the police many times of the illegal activities but they have not received any active cooperation so far.
He said that Forest department alone cannot control the illegal felling of forest trees.
The Joint Forest Management Committee formed with representatives from local clubs and forest departments are none functional.
The department is organizing many awareness programmes and campaigns to save the reserved forest.
He appealed to the local people for their cooperation in saving the reserved forest as it is very important to protect the environment.