In continuation with the Government's effort to eradicate illegal poppy cultivation and to make Manipur free of drugs, Kangpokpi Forest Department, along with the district police, destroyed around 15 hectares of illegal poppy cultivation on Tuesday at two different locations under Kangpokpi forest division in Kangpokpi district.
According to the Range Forest Officer/Headquarters, Kangpokpi Forest Division, the destruction of illegal poppy cultivation drive was conducted at the hill ranges of Harup Naga village under T. Waichong Sub Division and Mongjang village under Saikul Sub Division under Kangpokpi Forest Division.
The teams, comprising Kangpokpi Forest Department and Kangpokpi police, were led by Range Forest Officer, Kangpokpi Range, and Motbung Range.
A total of 4.23 hectares of illegal poppy cultivation was destroyed at Harup Naga village under T. Waichong Sub Division and 10.12 hectares were destroyed at Mongjang village under Saikul Subdivision while FIRs and PORs are filed against the cultivators and legal action was taken up as per the law.
The Range Forest Officer said that poppy has been found cultivated inside the notified forest areas which is a clear violation of the rules and regulations laid down by the Government to protect such forest areas while adding that as per the Indian Forest Act, 1972 read with Manipur Forest Rules, 2021 breaking up of land for non-forestry purposes in forest areas of the state amounts to trespassing and encroachment into Government protected forest land which is clear violations of the rules.
As such, any person found to have committed such illegal activities is punishable with imprisonment for a term that may extend to six months, with a fine, or with both, in addition to such compensation for damage done to the forest as the conviction Court may direct to pay, added the RFO, Headquarters.
The Divisional Forest Officer, Kangpokpi Forest Division, N. Ganesh, IFS warned to take strict action against those indulging in such illegal cultivation and to deal severely upon the village chiefs under whose village jurisdiction such illegal cultivation is found as per the law.
The DFO Kangpokpi Forest Division also appealed to the public to refrain from indulging in such illegal activity and help the Government in its effort to nab those responsible while reiterating that besides it being a clear violation of the rules laid down by the Government, poppy cultivation is a serious threat to the environment as well.
He continued that uncontrolled and injudicious deforestation and the use of chemical fertilizers liberally without any thought of its impact on health and the environment in the upland slopes affect not only the environment but also pose serious health hazards to those living in the surrounding areas as the chemical or fertilizers dissolve in the water become unfit for consumption.
He also appealed to the public to inform the concerned departments if they have any leads on the illegal activity and to join hands to make the "War on Drugs" campaign a success while adding that it is our collective and individual responsibility to look after, protect and preserve the environment.
