Asem Bhakta, Special Correspondent North East
Imphal: (Waari Singbul Network) Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has commended the National Green Tribunal’s proactive stance on addressing the alarming forest cover loss in the state. Addressing the media at his Secretariat in Imphal on Sunday, Singh lauded the NGT for swiftly taking note of the issue highlighted in his tweet, attributing the loss to deforestation, illegal encroachment, and widespread poppy cultivation.
Singh on his microblogging site X tweeted: “We rely on Mother Nature for our survival; Mother Nature will continue to thrive without us.”
He also highlighted what he termed as mind boggling data which stated that the state loss 877 square kms of forest cover between 2021 to 1987 due to poppy cultivation in the state.
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal in Delhi responded to the data provided by the Chief Minister, expressing profound concerns over the violation of environmental regulations. In response, the NGT has issued notices to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) and the Forest Survey of India (FSI), demanding a prompt response within a week.
Furthermore, the NGT has slated a hearing on July 31 to delve deeper into the matter and explore viable solutions to curb the escalating forest cover loss. Singh’s appreciation for the NGT’s proactive approach underscores the collaborative efforts aimed at preserving the ecological balance and safeguarding the natural heritage of Manipur.
