IMPHAL, Dec 4: Former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Thursday said if concrete action is not taken against widespread destruction of forests, the state will face an existential crisis.
Sharing a video footage of widespread illicit poppy plantations in Kangpokpi district on X, Singh said “this video recorded today (Dec 3) shows why recurrent floods have taken place in the state. The footage shows poppy plantation at Kolten and Selsi Hill Ranges of IT- Road under T. Waichong Sub-division in Kangpokpi District.”
Singh continued “all our forest have been destroyed while we are trying to pull each other down. None of our leaders have spoken out against such wide-scale devastation.”
Singh asked why officials of the Forest Department have not taken any action against the perpetrators.
He said “it is suspected that armed militants are involved in these illicit activities. Unless we take concrete action, the state will face an existential crisis.”
In another post, Singh said “what forest officials and police have been doing when forests across vast hill ranges were being felled.”
(By Our Correspondent)
