Chief Minister N Biren Singh said the state government is committed to saving forests and water bodies and there will be no compromise in undertaking the effort. He was speaking to reporters at a tree plantation programme conducted at Eshingchaibi area of Nongmaiching Reserved Forest in connection with the celebration of 73rd Van Mahotsav 2022.
Biren said with the commemoration of 75 years of India’s Independence, the Van Mahotsav is organised across the country. For the state, the government is targeting to plant 75 lakhs tree saplings by the end of August.
The chief minister said the present BJP-led government will prioritise saving reserved forest, protected forest and water bodies and the government will not compromise. Eviction process will continue against illegal encroachers at reserved forest, protected forest and near water bodies.
The government will take necessary action without favouritism, nepotism or political benefit, he said. The impact of deforestation can be witnessed in the recent landslide that occurred at Tupul, he added.
Biren further said that to protect reserved and protected forest, the state government has issued arms to forest guards and training for forest guards on handling of arms and ammunition has been completed at the training centre, Pangei.
Later, the main formal function of the 73rd Van Mahotsav was conducted at the community hall of “Sanamahi Kiyong”.
During the function, a book titled “The Mother of Dark Chamber”, a story of a hornbill couple that nest inside a cavity of a tree, written by Kh Shamungou, was released.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said the book needs to be translated into different dialects so that people of different communities, having different dialects, could realise the value of conservation of trees. The bird was once seen by the forefathers, however, due to increasing deforestation, the ‘Hornbill’ has no place to build their home, he added.
Biren said that Van Mahotsav used to be observed inside Kangla and most of the works of forest officials were done on table without going to the ground level and lamented that it might be the reason for large deforestation in the state before the BJP came to power.
However, with the coming of the BJP-led government the celebration of Van Mahotsav has been started at Koubru and Nongmaiching ranges, the CM said and urged the officers to think for the entire society and not just for the community the officers belong to. He also said that it is the responsibility of Indian Forest Service officers to spread awareness of the various Forests Acts for the people to understand.
Further calling on all to support the government in beautifying the Loktak Lake and safeguarding it for the people, the Chief Minister urged the people against disturbing the ecosystem at Loktak.
He assured to bring a change in the landscape of the State in the next five years and sought support and cooperation from the people.
Forests, Environment and Climate Change Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh, said the celebration of Van Mahotsav is to spread awareness among the people to conserve forest and to save the environment.
The state government is targeting a plantation of 75 lakhs tree saplings and till date around 44 lakhs tree saplings have been planted, the minister informed.
Rajya Sabha Maharaja Leishemba Sanajaoba, CAF and PD minister Leishangthem Susindro Meitei, MLA Kh Ibomcha, MLA Sheikh Noorul Hassan, and Chief Secretary Rajesh Kumar among others attended the function as dignitaries.
