KNF clarifies, refutes report
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 09 2012:
Refuting the report that appeared in the October 9 edition of this paper regarding the forced closure of Forest Office at Motbung, the underground Kuki National Front (KNF) has clarified that the Forest officers had shut the office for fear of retaliatory action from the village chiefs for their alleged negligence to their duties and responsibilities.
Denying the report that the outfit had served monetary demand and forced the closure of Beat Forest Office, Motbung, Koubru Range, a statement issued by the outfit's information and publicity secretary, LH Stephen, clarified that not a single tree has been planted by the Forest department in Koubru range for the last ten years nor any programme implemented to enhance forest produces.
While ignoring their services and responsibilities towards the civil society, the forest officers are busy collecting taxes and taking bribes for transportation of illegal forest produces, the statement charged.
The Forest officers have paid no heed to the calls of various village chiefs of the area on their alleged negligence and non functioning for the last many years, the KNF alleged.
Unable to bear the negligent attitude of the officials towards the civil society, they have been asked to explain their development activities from 2001, it said and added that the forest officers had shut the office for fear of retaliatory action from the village chiefs.
The statement posited that the forest officers have fabricated the issue and cooked up baseless story of receiving monetary demand from the KNF, which is totally unacceptable.
Stating that the Forest beat office of Koubru Range could not be allowed to be the centre of lucrative business for the selfish employees of the Forest dept, the KNF appealed the forest officers to stop passing the buck and instead pull up their socks and start realising their responsibility towards the civil society.