Our Correspondent
Imphal, Jan. 24 (EMN): A day after inspecting the forested areas of Churachandpur district, Manipur’s Forest and Environment Minister Thaounaojam Shyamkumar inspected the Indo-Myanmar border area on Wed. Also, he visited Holenphai, a border village in Tengnoupal district as part of his ‘forest inspection tour.’
Shyamkumar, who holds the Horticulture portfolio as well, appealed to the people of the area not to cut trees but to help in saving the environment. As part of the campaign the Horticulture and Soil Conservation department will plant fruit-bearing trees en masse. The fruits include jackfruit, Litchi, and cashew on the Indian side of the border area, he told reporters during the sidelines of the visit. Experts will be consulted ‘so that suitable fruit-bearing trees are planted in the region.’
The minister informed that the state’s chief minister will be consulted about the possible steps to be taken to combat Global Warming and to stop illegal transportation of logs from Myanmar via Manipur. Shyamkumar said trees are being cut down on large scale in the Myanmar side and transported illegally to India. If massive cutting continues in the border area, he said, Climate Change will affect both the countries.
On Tuesday, Shyamkumar led forest officials in Churachandpur district bordering Myanmar and Mizoram in seizing a truck loaded with logs along the Sejol-Vaukom road near Tuilienjang village. The truck was handed over to the divisional forest officer of the Southern Forest division in Churachandpur.
The minister also dismantled several bird traps in the area. He appealed to the villagers not to harm birds which he said are also an important constituent of the ecosystem.
In May 2017 also Shyamkumar intercepted 14 timber laden trucks which were being transported illegally from Myanmar via Kamjong district in Manipur’s Ukhrul district.
