WBCC slams forest department inaction amid widespread hill clearing in Thoubal and Kakching

The Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation Committee (WBCC) Manipur has sharply criticized the Forest Department for failing to act on rampant deforestation and illegal hill clearing in forested areas under the Thoubal and Kakching Forest Divisions, despite clear orders from the Manipur High Court to prevent such activities.
In a press statement issued by Robi Ningthoujam, General Secretary of WBCC, the organization accused the Forest Department of remaining a “mute spectator” while hills, including Reserved Forests, Protected Forests, and Unclassed Forests, are being cleared for human settlement and other unauthorized purposes. The Committee said deforestation has been reported from several locations, including sacred groves within Una Una Gwarok Reserved Forest, where natural vegetation is being destroyed unchecked.
Robi Ningthoujam stated that excavators are being used to level hill areas between Tentha and Phundrei under the Thoubal Forest Range, and similar activities are taking place in Keirak and Kakching areas. Despite visible signs of destruction, WBCC noted, the Forest Department has failed to respond with effective deterrent measures.
WBCC volunteers have been deployed to monitor affected areas, confirming that illegal activities are ongoing. The Committee warned that continued deforestation poses severe threats to biodiversity and could lead to long-term water scarcity.
“Protecting our forests is not just a legal mandate but a moral responsibility,” said Ningthoujam, urging immediate action from authorities and active support from the public. WBCC has called on residents to report such violations and join efforts to conserve the region’s remaining green cover, warning that delay could result in irreversible ecological damage.
The organization reaffirmed that without urgent intervention, Manipur risks losing critical forest ecosystems that are vital to the state’s environmental and cultural heritage.