IMPHAL, Nov 15 ? Forest areas are shrinking from 67.6 percent to 48 per cent in the total area of 22,327 sq kms of Manipur, according to the latest report of the state forest department. In 1987 the forest areas were 17679 sq kms but in the latest survey using remote sensing satellites, the figure shrunk to 17418 sq kms. Areas under the Reserved Forest category are 1467 sq kms, Protected Forest 4171 sq kms and other forest 11,780 sq kms, the report said.
Around three kms from Imphal, the Langol Reserved Forest with its 7.45 sq kms areas serving as the ?green lungs? of the Imphal valley has lost its 350 hectares due to occupation by the new settlers. Its areas had been reduced since enforcement of the Manipur Hill Village Act 1947.
Large scale deforestation, unchecked encroachment, failure to provide protection and hanky panky in land allotment in the reserved forest areas are the main reasons for forest shrinking in the state, the report said. Most portions of the forest areas have become devoid of vegetation and soil erosion has become a major feature.
Besides, large-scale deforestation of the Langol Reserve Forest areas has been going on in violation of the state forest policy. The surrounding areas at the foothills face flooding frequently as a result of deforestation, the report further said.
It also mentioned the importance of preserving ?areas? for the sake of clean and healthy environs in Imphal city. Though 70 per cent of the resource in Manipur is dependent on forest products, resource of the Forest Department has decreased considerably after the Supreme Court banned felling of timber in 1996.
The department collected Rs. 96 lakh from forest products (minor and major) in 2001. Rs. 17.50 lakh has been collected as its revenue last year. The report also said that the Government has stopped issuing saw mill license. Number of saw mills came down to 50 from 206 in 1996 though there are reports of illegal saw mill operations.
Forest in Manipur is classified into seven types ? wet temperate was 8.23 per cent, prime forest 13.86 per cent, wet hill forest 51.4 per cent, semi evergreen forest 3.66 per cent, teak gurjan forest 3.48 per cent, bamboo forest 18.55 per cent and grass forest 0.82 per cent.
Land under agriculture is about 338.04 sq kms, crop land 2242.72 per cent, urban sites 233.13 sq kms and jhum cultivation area 2035.11 sq kms. The lack of awareness among the local residents is the root cause of mass deforestation, the report opined.