Kakching MLA Rameshwar had alleged on the floor of the State Assembly earlier on the first of this month that the Alliance for Development Alternative –Manipur (ADAM) represented by its secretary Kshetrimayum Surjit had illegally encroached upon forest land under the Angan Ching hill, located at a stone’s throw from Kakching town.
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Strongly refuting the allegations made by the sitting Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Kakching, M Rameshwar as baseless, representative members of Angan Ching Eco-Park management termed it unfortunate that the years of community-led effort in greening the historic Angan Ching hill in the district is being portrayed wrongly.
Kakching MLA Rameshwar had alleged on the floor of the State Assembly earlier on the first of this month that the Alliance for Development Alternative –Manipur (ADAM) represented by its secretary Kshetrimayum Surjit had illegally encroached upon forest land under the Angan Ching hill, located at a stone’s throw from Kakching town.
Speaking to media persons Sunday at the park, ADAM representative Kshetrimayum Surjit informed that the sole purpose of ADAM is to help restore the degraded ecosystem of Angan Ching hill which at one point of time was fairly green and was the ‘lungs’ of Kakching town. Extensive resource use by the locals had largely scrapped the hill of all its tree cover, leaving it barren and desolate, Surjit stated adding that ADAM stepped in to help restore its green cover.
Angan Ching, which is also locally referred by locals as Mahadeva Ching, is important for preservation and protection as a religious site where local people offer worship each year on the occasion of Sajibu Cheiraoba, thus having a close association of the locals with the hillock through socio-religious ties. ADAM’s role in conserving the hill adds serenity to the hill and contributes to its long term preservation, Surjit added.
Terming the MLA’s allegations of encroachment as outrightly baseless, Surjit stated that the initiative to re-green Angan Ching as a community-led campaign was started from the year 2004 with the informed knowledge of the Kakching Municipal Council, wherein the Council had issued a No Objection Certificate (Letter No.15-1/KCH/MUC/82-85 of 12/09/2005) for the eco restoration initiative in an area of 105 acres covering the geographical area of Angan Ching hill.
During these past eighteen years and more, ADAM with extensive support from the local community, civil society organizations, student community, nature lovers and environmental workers had continuously worked to give shape to the present structure where the hill is now broadly under tree cover, signaling a success story of community involvement in forest ecosystem restoration.
Terming the MLA’s allegation as unfortunate and contradictory to the community-led initiative in restoring Angan Ching’s green cover, Surjit pointed out that the MLA himself had appreciated the effort of ADAM in its campaign.
MLA Rameshwar had written in the visitor’s book as, “It’s really a good initiative and noble thought which will go a long way in making a better place to live, I salute ADAM (Alliance for Development Alternative –Manipur)” during a visit to the eco-park on 20 December, 2020.
Quite contrast to this green initiative, a recent program of the Government under the scheme of Eco-Tourism Destination Project was taken up in the northern portion of the Angan Ching foothill, wherein a large part of the hill was defaced and physically modified. A large number of trees planted by ADAM were chopped down to facilitate the project, ADAM secretary Surjit alleged while adding that the concept and motive of the project was in total contrast to the environment friendly activity of ADAM with its eco-park initiative.
It may be recalled that Angan Ching Eco-Park in-houses several green memorial sites dedicated by family members in memory of their loved ones. Dr Thingam Kishan Memorial Block, Kshetrimayum Irabot Memorial Complex, Hiroshima & Nagasaki Memorial Complex, Macha Chanu Complex, Dr Naorem Achouba Memorial Block, and many more were dedicated in select spaces with the plantation of trees.
Successive Deputy Commissioners of Kakching District, namely, Th Kirankumar, Dr Neilenthang Telien, Valentina Arambam, Kengoo Zuringla, D Gangmei and Somorjit Salam had visited the eco-park and planted trees here in acknowledging and contributing to the noble initiative of ADAM, Surjit stated.
The objective of the initiative is in securing an open green space which is essentially developed with the contribution of many individuals, creating a breathing space for people who love to be with nature, Surjit stressed, while adding that any individual is welcome to plant a tree here in the park in memory of their loved ones, connecting the departed soul with nature through their symbolic trees.
Sunday’s media interaction was attended by State’s Green Ambassador Valentina Elangbam, IUCN CEESP member Salam Rajesh, Directorate of Environment’s Media Resource Centre’s coordinator Sobhapati Samom, ADAM representative N.Rajendra, and local community leaders amongst others.