Imphal, Jun 5: Riha Village, Ukhrul district, an affected village of Mapithel dam observed the World Environment Day today with an exhaustive environment awareness programme.
R Leishipem and KS David were the resource persons. In their speeches, emphasis was laid on the importance of massive tree plantation to raise forest and protection of wild animals in order to conserve environment.
Meanwhile, Mapithel Dam Affected Villages Organisation (MDAVO) expressed serious concern regarding wide dimensional devastation of forest areas by the Mapithel dam water last year which continues till date.
In connection with the observation of World Environment Day, MDAVO said that the IFCD, GoM ought to take up remedial measures to raise forest prior to submerging those thousand hectares of low lying forest trees in the Mapithel valley range as per the mandatory conditions laid down in the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
Further, MDAVO expressed that the state Govt. of Manipur should not shy away from the responsibility of maintaining ecological balance and proper assessment of forest and environment impacts in taking up any development projects like Mapithel dam to protect the world environment at large.
MDAVO also appealed the project proponent/State Govt. of Manipur to release Mapithel dam water till its lowest level to check submergence/devastation of more forest area until mandatory measures such as compensatory afforestation are taken up in line with the National Green Laws.