Former Manipur MP Mani Charenamei on Monday stated that coordination and cooperation from the people of both hills and valleys are highly needed to prevent natural calamities.
The former MP stated the above during a mass tree plantation programme held at Makhan River Catchment area. He also said that the state government should also give special economic package for hill people who solely depend on forest for livelihood.
The programme was jointly organised by Save the River Foundation, Makhan Village Authority, Makhan Youth Club, 38 Assam Rifle, CRPF Camp Leikhampokpi under the supervision of DFO Kangpokpi.
Charenamei, who is also the secretary of Save the River Foundation, said that the state has been encountering natural calamities such as landslide in hill areas and drought-like situation in plain areas which is an impact of forest degradation.
People settling in hill areas have been destroying their livelihood by cutting trees to sell the woods and eventually, forests are also destroyed. As forest is the source of income for hill people, the state government should take up some economic packages for them so that deforestation can be stopped.
Save the River Foundation chairman Z Sironbou Newmai said that they have taken up various steps to save the rivers in the state and the tree plantation programme was also a part of their initiative. He further said that the foundation will continue to take up other measures to save the nature.
