877 square km of forest cover destroyed for poppy cultivation in Manipur in 34 years: CM N Biren Singh

In 34 years (1987-2021), 877 square kilometres of forest cover was destroyed in Manipur, primarily for the illegal poppy cultivation, said Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

Taking to X, Chief Minister N Biren Singh shared a video describing how the Manipur government has fought illegal exploitation in the state over the last 34 years.

He said that the state had a forest cover of 17,475 square kilometres in 1987, which had decreased to 16,598 square kilometres by 2021.  

The Chief Minister said that after the BJP came to power in Manipur in 2017, at least 291 encroachers have been evicted from the state’s reserved and protected forests.

He has referred to the loss of forest cover as “mind-boggling data”, and said, “We rely on mother nature for our survival. Mother nature will continue to thrive without us.”

“Evictions from the Reserve Forest & Protected Forest were carried out throughout the state. It was never targeted towards any particular community,” CM N Biren Singh added.

“Our forests, once teeming with life are now under threat. degradation caused by various factors has left scars on our landscapes, threatening the very balance of nature. The loss of biodiversity not only diminishes the richness of our natural heritage but also disrupts essential ecosystem. The consequences of this environmental destructions are felt across the state, clear-felling, poppy cultivation, encroachments, and hill earth extractions have ravaged our forests, leaving behind desolate landscapes and diminishing biodiversity. Unregulated establishment of villages within reserved and protected forest areas further exacerbates the problem leading to habitat loss and fragmentation, but hope is not lost. The government of Manipur has taken decisive action to combat this crisis. Authorities have launched a crackdown on illegal forest encroachers. Armed with the law and committed to conservation, eviction notices are served, singling the end of illegal occupation and encroachers are being evicted and the Forest Rights Act 2006 is being implemented to ensure the rights of forest-dependent communities,” states the video in its captions.

Watch the video here:

Earlier last week, Chief Minister N Biren Singh once again expressed concern over illegal influx into the state. 

Taking to X, CM N Biren pointed at the unnatural growth of as many as 996 new villages due to illegal immigration. This, he said, was a threat to indigenous people and national security.

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