IT News
Imphal, May 14:
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of Forest Force (PCCF & HoFF), along with a team of Forest Officials visited Singda Dam and carried out survey of Singda Dam Watershed/Catchment area on Friday. Following the inspections, the Water Resources department of the Government of Manipur has been advised to take up eviction of encroachers to the catchment areas which were already acquired by the department way back in the 1970s.
Singda Dam Catchment area is roughly about 2300 hectares, out of which 310 acres have been acquired by Water Resources Department in 1977. Given the receding nature of water level at Singda Dam, the Chief Minister of Manipur, N. Biren Singh, has directed Forest Department and Water Resource Department to take necessary action to revive the Singda Dam Watershed area.
On visiting the area, PCCF has informed that more than half of the catchment area is planned to be treated with afforestation activities under KfW (Indo-German Project). On the remaining areas and particularly on the higher slopes on the north, PCCF has directed the DFO to take up Afforestation /Restoration during the current year plantation season.
The idea of Participatory Plantation is also mooted, as Singda Dam is a lifeline of most Imphal based residents irrespective of community.
The Forest Department has planned to initiate a “SAVE SINGDA; SAVE WATER” Campaign by means of Participatory Plantation. It is also appealed to all the people to take part in this Participatory Plantation Drive at Singda Catchment Area from next Monday. The seedlings will be made available to all people coming to take part in this SAVE SINGDA Campaign.