It is widely believed that during the 1891 Anglo-Manipuri war at Khongjom, a few kilometres from where the peepal tree used to stand, Manipuri soldiers used to discuss war tactics below the same tree, KDS said.
TFM Desk
Khangabok Development Society (KDS, Khangabok) condemned felling of a historic peepal tree at Khangabok Part-1, Sanilou area, as part of the development of the Indo-Myanmar highway.
KDS, in a release, said the historic tree was more than 200 years old. It grew in the historic Moirang Palli or Kaoren Ontha Paljao, now known as Khangabok Moirang Palli. The Palli was built by Maharaja Bheigyachandra during his second reign between 1763 to 1798 as part of a defence structure against the Awa (Burmese). It is said that the historic tree was planted after the Palli was built, it added.
It is also widely believed that during the 1891 Anglo-Manipuri war at Khongjom, a few kilometres from where the peepal tree used to grow, Manipuri soldiers used to discuss war tactics below the peepal tree, KDS said.
KDS also maintained that the peepal tree could have been easily spared. The Indo-Myanmar road could have been expanded westward along the Khangabok Moirang Palli where there is wasteland. But the authorities fell the historic tree anyway, as if showing that they can do anything.
The release further recalled how two historic peepal trees were cut down at Chingmeirong in the past. KDS also pointed out that chief minister N Biren Singh has been vocal against felling of trees which inturn affect ecological balance. But the recent felling of the historic peepal tree has become akin to pouring oil to fire, it added.
KDS also urged the authorities to take up developmental projects without destroying the environment.