Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 15 2009:
Timber merchants are continuing to export freely huge quantity of Pine resins to neighbouring states from Ukhrul district through National Highway 150.At the same time, trading in pine resin has become the main source of income for people living on the side of stretch of the NH-150/Jessami road.
Villagers have sold the resin at the rate of Rs 5 per kilogram.
The resins are transported through NH-150 till Dimapur.
Then it used to be spread at different markets of the region.
The hard transparent resins are principally used for varnishes and cement, while the softer ones containing essential oils are said to be used for therapeutic purposes and incense.
Interestingly, there has been no restriction from the Forest department on the massive felling down of pine trees in the area.
The felling down of huge numbers of pine trees in a year has gone almost unnoticed.
It is also pertinent to note that there is no single check-post in the Manipur-Nagaland border area along the NH-150 .
This has encourag d the traders to carry on their trade freely.
It may be mentioned that the government is planning to make Imphal a green city while large numbers of trees are cut down in interior forest areas of the state.