Our Correspondent
Imphal | January 8
Union Minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Prakash Javedkar here on Friday discouraged Jhum farming saying such a practice affects the environment.
The Union Forest Minister, who arrived in Imphal in a two-day visit to the state, was received by Manipur BJP president Th Chaoba, party MLAs and general secretary M Ashinikumar at Imphal Airport.
He met top leaders of the state BJP at the party office and discussed the current situation of the state. The Forest Minister later called on Manipur Governor V Shanmuganathan at the Raj Bhavan.
Javedkar urged upon farmers in the hill districts of Manipur to stop shifting cultivation by finding new ways of living and expressed his concern about the impacts of such farming on environment.
He stated that shifting cultivation affects the soil and environment and hence this practice should be discouraged now. In North East, 85 percent of the total cultivation is by Jhum farming.
The Union Minister interacted with a number of farmers from different districts of the state at Forest Department, Sanjenthong here. Central Forest Ministry’s Additional Director M Anilkumar, Manipur Forest Minister Th Debendra Singh and other officials were present during the interaction.
The visiting Forest Minister later visited Ima Keithel (women market) in Khwairamband Keithel, which was extensively damaged by the recent earthquake.
Javedkar talked to women protesters at the market complex. The women vendors have been demanding construction of new buildings of the Ima Keithel which has three markets.
“I’m quite surprised to see the damaged Ima Keithel which is only five years old. Buildings which are about 60 years old in the state were reported untouched by the January 4 tremor,” he said.
“I’ve reported the concerned ministry about the damage,” he added.
Javedkar also visited the sacred Kangla Fort and had a glimpse of Kangla Sha (dragon statue) inside the fort. Kangla was the ancient capital of Manipur kingdom. The minister planted saplings inside the fort.
