Imphal, November 17: Inefficiency of the State forest Department authorities has been cited as the main factor for the rapid decline in forest cover consequently leading to ecological imbalances in the State.

According to an informed source, not providing arms to forest department personnel have been encouraging anti-social elements to ravage forest growths for timber and other commercial purpose thereby compromising the fragile ecology.

The union Ministry of forests and Environment had already intimated to the State Government to provide arms and communication gadgets to forest guards to check unprecedented deforestation but the same had evoked a negative response from the State authorities on grounds that prevailing law and order situation does not guarantee safety of arms as well as forest personnel, said the source.

Expressing surprise at the State Government policy of prohibiting arms possession by forest guards, the source argued that prevailing law and order situation necessitates arming the forest personnel as to protect the forest cover which is depleting.

It is obvious that those anti-social elements having access to arms will always have the upper hand in any given situation, the source countered.

While arming the forest guards would not only make unscrupulous elements think twice before embarking on deforestation mission it would be more positive if the State Government draws up an acceptable project and forward the same to Central authorities for protection of forests by enrolling new personnel through adequate funding, maintained the source.

The source also cited expansion of villages in the hill areas as another factor for decline in forest cover as new settlement automatically requires clearing the jungles.

Glaring example of not arming the forest guard resulting in threat to the state�s forest cover is inability to check timber smugglers from felling valuable trees by a contractor from Nagaland State in connivance with some villagers of Tamei sub-division in Tamenglong district, asserted the source.

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