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Manipur working on alternative to jhum cultivation

By Correspondent

IMPHAL, July 20 - Manipur is working to find an alternative to jhum cultivation. A project will be prepared soon which will control jhum cultivation and find an alternative for people depending on the age-old practice.

Manipur Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Awangbow Newmai disclosed this while speaking at an inspection visit to Hungpung and Ukhrul Central Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK), Rashing Hall at Awungtang in Ukhrul district on Saturday.

K Leishiyo, Adviser to the Chief Minister and MLA (Phunyar), MLAs Khashim Vasum, (Chingai), Alfred Kanngam Arthur (Ukhrul), Yaransho Ngalung, ADC, Chairman, Ukhrul, forest officers and others attended the function.

Informing that a joint discussion between departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Soil Conservation and Sericulture has already been initiated, Forest Minister Awangbow opined that clearing of the forest areas will have an adverse impact on the lives of the people of the State.

Stating that the department has undertaken various projects, while a few are under the pipeline in Ukhrul district, he said Duncan Ecological Park in Somsai is under progress. Further, 11 VDVKs, which is the biggest in the State with good progress report, intends to be covered in 3,500 hectares of land under the CAMPA scheme, 12 villages to be covered under the KMW (popularly known as German project), 925 hectares of land covered under the Green India Mission and 40 hectares of land under the National Bamboo Mission.

In his speech,MH Khan, Additional Chief Secretary (Forest, Environment and Climate Change) said that there are 5 new projects in the pipeline for medicinal plant, bee-keeping and others to be submitted to the Centre for fund allocation from the North Eastern Council and Ministry of Agriculture.

On the other hand, K Angami, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force (PCCF and HoFF) said that the Forest Department is the nodal agency for implementing the scheme in the State.

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