Northeast Desk, 11th May: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has lauded the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for acknowledging the alarming forest cover loss in the state due to deforestation, illegal encroachment, and rampant poppy cultivation. Singh commended the tribunal for taking proactive steps to address this pressing issue.
An exclusive report by NDTV highlighted a significant decrease in forest cover in Manipur from 17,475 sqkm in 1987 to 16,598 sqkm in 2021, indicating a loss of 877 sqkm of forest area. Singh, in a social media post, emphasized that a substantial portion of this forest cover was lost due to illegal opium poppy cultivation.
Singh’s post also addressed the evictions carried out in reserved and protected forests across the state, emphasizing that they were not targeted towards any particular community. This statement comes amidst ongoing ethnic tensions in the state, with some attributing the crisis to the government’s policies.
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the Principal Bench of the NGT in Delhi has issued notices to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) and the Forest Survey of India (FSI), seeking their responses within a week. The NGT has further scheduled a hearing on July 31 to delve deeper into the issue and explore potential solutions.
The NGT’s swift action underscores the urgency of addressing environmental degradation and highlights the importance of collaborative efforts to safeguard Manipur’s precious natural resources.