74th Van Mahotsav: Ram Muivah launches forest festival at Shirui village
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik
Thoubal/Ukhrul, July 10 2023: Ukhrul MLA Ramnganing' Muivah, retd IAS launched the 74th Van Mahotsav celebration at Vangayan Shirui village, Ukhrul today.
Speaking at the occasion, Muivah dwelt on the cultural significance of Shirui mountain to the Tangkhul community beside being the main water source of Ukhrul town.
He pointed out that Shirui mountain is also an important alpine mountain of Manipur found in Ukhrul and must be afforested for the welfare of the people.
Further he urged the Ukhrul people to participate in the mass plantation drive carried out by the Forest Department.
Plantation in the Shirui mountain area will rejuvenate our natural spring water source, he added.
Meanwhile Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Ukhrul Shangam Shaliwo in his keynote address informed the gathering about the objective of celebrating the forest festival under the theme "Each one, plant one, stop the chop" .
The celebration is a week-long plantation drive across the country in order to keep our future sustained by regenerating and preserving our forest, he said.
During the launching programme, the headman of Shirui village Soyo Wungsek highlighted that the abode of Shirui Lily has been threatened by an invasive variety of small bamboo called Majun.
He also raised the issue of infrastructure development in Vangayan, which is the main venue of Shirui Lily Festival to attract more tourists.
Further, he shared that more than 200 youth including elders of the village took part in a plantation drive held at the foothill of Shirui mountain.
In connection with the 74th Van Mahotsav celebration, over 500 saplings will be planted in the surrounding periphery of Vangayan within a 2 km stretch with phoebe tree, cherry plant, talhou, cinnamon, pine and flowering shrub bougainvillea etc at three points, namely Vangayan slope, Kashung Ngapak and Seishim.
The programme was attended by DC, Ukhrul Zuringla Kengoo, Addl SP Ringthing Hongchui, CEO, Ukhrul David Kashungnao, EE PHED Themreishang Marei, Dy GM MSPDCL Akhui Longpinao including the staff of DC, Ukhrul.
The programme was organised by Ukhrul Forest Division in collaboration with Shirui village.
Meanwhile, at Wabagai Buffalo Farm, the Thoubal Forest Division organised the 74th Van Mahotsav celebration today by planting 1000 tree saplings.
Around 200 displaced individuals hailing from Serou and Sugnu and currently taking refuge at Sanatombi High School relief camp, Keirak also participated in the tree plantation drive.
Today's event was attended by Th Lokendro Singh, MFS, DFO/Thoubal; N Munal Meitei, MFS, ACF/ Chandel; L Dinesh Singh, RFO/Kakching; S Shamungou Singh, RFO/ Thoubal and Suijit Kshetrimayum, secretary, ADAM.
The relief camp inmates planted saplings of fruit bearing trees and flowering trees in and around the sacred site of Ibudhou Thangjing temple.
Speaking on the occasion, N Munal Meitei stated that environmental degradation is a challenge to the security of the State.
Thus, everyone must contribute towards protecting the environment.
The main objective of this forest festival, which started in 1950, is to ensure that every citizen of the nation plants at least one tree, he said.