Awareness programme on Forest Fire held

As part of the Forest Fire Prevention & Management Scheme 2024–25, a one-day awareness program on forest fires was conducted by the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Bishnupur Forest Division, Government of Manipur, at Kiyamba Ningshing Shanglen, Bishnupur.
DFO Bishnupur, Waikhom Romabai, along with the Project Director of Eastern Border Area Development Authority (EBADA) and Barak River Valley Development Board (BRVDB), Nongthombam Loyalakpa, attended the event as special guests and speakers of the event.
Nongthombam Loyalakpa, in his speech, said the leaders of both the hills and the plains and religious leaders speak on conservation of trees and animals but take no actions on it. He said that the pastors of the hills speak on stopping the killing of animals to the masses but have the habit of going hunting around Christmas and New Year. In the hunt, valuable endangered animals are also killed. He suggested adopting a sustainable development plan through forest farming by collaborating with the departments concerned and implementing necessary measures.
DFO Waikhom Romabai mentioned that the timing of Jhum cultivation aligned with the timing of occurrences of forest fires. She emphasized the need to stop burning crops to reduce forest fires as much as possible. And possible work and methods under the Forest Fire Prevention & Management Scheme 2024–25 should be adopted as much as possible to save trees and at the same time create a different way of life so everyone can happily live together in a flourishing environment.
The program also included a discussion with JFMCs and VDVK SHGs on steps the people living in the forests can adopt to contribute to the conservation of forests through a PowerPoint presentation.