Forest and Environment additional chief secretary MH Khan appealed the villagers to extend cooperation and get the maximum benefits from the project so as to uplift their livelihood.
TFM Ukhrul Correspondent
In order to strengthen sustainable livelihood strategies and income generation opportunities, a project is being initiated under Community-Based Sustainable Forest Management for Water Resources Conservation in Manipur (COSFOM) in Ukhrul district.
Mobilisation meeting of project villages under COSFOM was held at the premises of Ukhrul Forest Division Office, Phungreitang, Ukhrul on Wednesday.
Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) was taken from the project implementing villages before taking up the project. Every household of the village becomes a member of Water Resource Conservation Group (WRCG) and the group in turn, sets up the village Water Resource and Conservation Committee (WRCC) for effective implementation of the said project. Entry Point Activities were taken up as per the decision taken by the respective WRCG of the village.
The programme was organised by Ukhrul Forest Division, government of Manipur and was attended by Forest and Environment additional chief secretary MH Khan, Forests and HoFF principal chief conservator K Angami, CF&WCS-M PCCF cum project director L Baite and other dignitaries.
MH Khan in his speech appealed the villagers to extend cooperation and get the maximum benefits from the project so as to uplift their livelihood. He stated that sincere and honest implementation of the project by the villagers would greatly benefit them in many ways.
K Angami stated “let us work together, we have come to seek your cooperation so that this project is a success and also to increase the livelihood and living standard of the villagers. Reforest the area and protect the area for a better environment.”
Ukhrul DFO Shanngam Shaliwo thoroughly and exhaustively elaborated the basic principles and objectives of the project. The project had already started in Shirui, Landang and Choithar. Entry Point Activities (EPA) of the three villages had been completed. 25 villages from Ukhrul District have been selected for this project, informed the DFO.
Various projects are being carried out along the catchment area of Thoubal River that flows towards the Mapithel region. Tree plantation and mixed species afforestation is being carried out in the open space for rejuvenation of the forest in the area.
The visiting team also inaugurated the water reservoir 15,000 litre capacity constructed at Shirui, Landang and Choithar as part of their entry point activities under COSFOM-KfW project.
The officials team also inspected the plantation site at Shirui carried out by Shirui WRCG under COSFOM-KfW project and inspected the ongoing construction works of Duncan Park under NEC project.
Headmen, secretaries and members of Village authorities, youth leaders, WRCC members of the respective villages attended the mobilisation meeting. As a sign of acknowledgement and respect, the visiting team also presented red blankets each to all the village chiefs who attended the programme.