Reserved forest area in Manipur reducing: Reports
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 28 2011:
Amidst the alarming decrease of total forest stock, Manipur has lost 28.35 sq km of total reserved forest area in the last eight years, an analysis of official reports indicate.
According to the State of Forest Report 2003, by Forest Survey of India Dehradun, the total reserved forest cover of Manipur was 1467 sq km, 8.6% of the total forest area of 17,219 sq km.
While, according to a state's own report, it has been reduced to 1038.65 sq km, as on October, 2010 .
Again, out of the total 28.35 sq km lost reserved forest area, 16.28 sq km was due to encroachment, the report indicates.
Except the Jiribam division out of the eight divisions of the state forest department, reserved forest were under encroachment.
Maximum encroachment of reserved forest area was reported in Tamenglong division, in which, of the total 204.65 sq km area, 8.16 sq km had been encroached.
2.92 sq km of the total 193.08 sq km reserved forest area under Northern forest division, Senapati and Ukhrul districts, was lost due to encroachment, the report maintained.
As per Manipur Forest Rules 1971, the Chief Conservator of Forest and the Forest Officer-in-charge of the division, has the power to evict summarily any unauthorised person who occupies or continues to occupy any land under the control of the forest department.
In case of resistance by the encroachers, the CCF/Officer in-charge of the divisions needs to bring the matter to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner who shall render necessary assistance through the police or other agencies to evict the trespassers.
However, it is learnt from sources that the department had not sought the assistance of the DCs concerned for eviction of the encroachers.
No reasons were recorded in the departmental records too, it is further learnt.
For ensuring protection of the reserved forest, construction and erection of boundary pillars is necessary.
State forest department has taken up erection of boundary pillars for a length of 1235 km.
However, source revealed erection of only 93.50 km (8%) of the total length leaving 1141.50 km not demarcated.
The audit of the CAG in respect of Manipur for the year ended March 31, 2010 pointed out the forest department and state government, in particular, for not framing a specific state forest policy.
The department did not fix any specific targets for demarcation of reserved forests, it states.
During 2009-10, there was a shortfall of 750 hectares in plantations, 790 hectares and 770 hectares in maintenance of one and two year plantations respectively even though the aim of the forest department is forest management in the state including wildlife, biodiversity and habitats for management and rehabilitation of ecology balance and economic development of the people of the state.
The department had without authorisation expended ' 53.59 lakh meant for preparation of a working plan, regeneration activities and protection of forest, the report alleged.