Committee on Protection and Preservation of Mount Koubru (COPPK) on Sunday rejected and opposed any move for landmarking or demarcation of reserved forest or any developmental programme at Mount Koubru unless COPPK, SAHILCA, and other CSOs are taken into confidence or without prior consultation.
TFM Desk
Despite a boycott call given by some organisations, the Manipur Government took up a mass tree plantation programme at Mangjol Village and Kanglatongbi–Kangpokpi Reserved Forest, Kangpokpi District on Monday in connection with the 72nd Van Mahotsav 2021.
Committee on Protection and Preservation of Mount Koubru (COPPK) on Sunday rejected and opposed any move for landmarking or demarcation of reserved forest or any developmental programme at Mount Koubru unless COPPK, SAHILCA, and other CSOs are taken into confidence or without prior consultation of the same.
This resolution was adopted by the Committee on Protection and Preservation of Mount Koubru, Sadar Hills Chiefs’ Association, Kangpokpi District (SAHILCA), Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi, Kuki Students’ Organization Sadar Hills, Thadou Inpi Sadar Hills and Thadou Women’s Association Sadar Hills on Sunday in an emergency joint meeting concerning the mass tree plantation and reserve forest landmarking at Mount Koubru range on Monday at L Mangjol village in Kangpokpi district.
The joint emergency meeting also announced a boycott of the mass tree plantation and reserve forest landmarking or demarcation.
The meeting also deliberately discussed the issue and took several decisions for the interest of the common public, said a press communique jointly signed Thanglensei Kipgen, Chairman COPPK, Lamtinthang Haokip, Secretary COPPK, and Haokholen Kipgen, Vice President SAHILCA.
According to the statement, COPPK, SAHILCA, all CSOs and entire inhabitants of Mount Koubru range do warmly welcome and appreciate any government programmes to restore back, protect and preserve the ecosystem and biodiversity of Mount Koubru and will keep supporting any efforts in future too.
It, however, stated that the government must, in letter and spirit, honour the “Gentlemen Agreement (Status Quo on Mount Koubru)” inked between the COPPK and representatives of the government on April 20, 2021.
It also said that while welcoming, supporting and appreciating the initiatives of the government, any move for landmarking or demarcation for reserve forest or any developmental programmes at Mount Koubru is out-rightly rejected and opposed tooth and nail until and unless the COPPK, SAHILCA and other CSOs are taken into confidence or without prior consultation of the same.
“Despite our efforts to meet on the issue for the past months, the state chief minister turned a blind-eye till today and as a matter of fact, considering all the above matters and to show our strong resentment, we unanimously declared to boycott the mass tree plantation and landmarking at Mount Koubru range”, it stated.
The COPPK had also directed all the chief, public leaders and common people to abstain from the same for the sole interest of the district.
Meanwhile, as celebrated week-long across the country, the Manipur Government took up a mass tree plantation programme at Mangjol Village and Kanglatongbi –Kangpokpi Reserved Forest, Kangpokpi District on Monday in connection with the 72nd Van Mahotsav 2021.
CM N Biren Singh led the other dignitaries in planting trees during the programme which was organised by the Forest Department, Manipur, according to a DIPR Manipur release.
It was the first-ever tree plantation programme being taken up in a Reserved Forest area in connection with Van Mahotsav in the state.
Speaking on the occasion, CM Biren maintained that every land in the state belongs to the government and it has the authority to use those lands for purposes that are meant for the development and welfare of its people. He appealed to the public to co-operate in the development policies and projects taken up by the government and refrain from thinking that their lands independently belong to them.
We shouldn’t be moved by politically and communally provoked thought but should have a mindset of living together with a sense of brotherhood among different communities, he added.
Appreciating the chief and locals of Mangjol Village for their invaluable support in the tree plantation programme, CM Biren stated that the programme had been taken up as an initiative to restore the natural environment of the region. Such initiative would help in preventing landslides during the rainy season and also facilitate in storing and supplying water to the village without additional measures from the Water Supply Department, he added.
Stating that none is authorised to take up any activity, whether construction or destruction, in Reserved Forest area without the permission of the Forest Department, he urged the encroachers to stop carrying out any activity in the Reserved Forest for their living and approach the government authority for an alternative arrangement. He also instructed the superintendent of police of the district and concerned authorities to meet those encroachers and make them aware of the schemes and policies introduced by the government for alternative ways of earning without affecting the forest areas.
The release further stated that the people of Mangjol village expressed happiness on the visit of CM Biren to their village and appreciated him for his various initiatives to bridge the gap between the hill and valley regions and other development works taken up for the welfare of hill people. The chief of the village also submitted a memorandum to the chief minister for which the latter assured to look into the matter.
Kangpokpi AC MLA Nemcha Kipgen, additional chief secretary MH Khan, principal chief conservator of Forests & HoFF, Manipur Dr AK Joshi and other government officials also attended the programme among others, the release added.