Nongmaiching Reserved Forest (Nongmaiching Forest Reserve) Meitei: Nongmaiching Umang | |
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![]() The Government of Manipur is the sole owner of the Nongmaiching Reserved Forest [lower-alpha 1] | |
Geography | |
Location | Imphal East, Manipur,![]() |
Area | 67 sq km (previously 74.7 sq km) [1] [2] [3] [4] |
Administration | |
Status | reserved (under the Indian Forest Act, 1927) |
Events | |
Governing body | Government of Manipur |
Ecology | |
Ecosystem(s) | Nongmaiching Ching |
The Nongmaiching Reserved Forest (Meitei : Nongmaiching Umang), also unofficially spelled as the Nongmaijing Reserved Forest (Meitei : Nongmaijing Umang), [lower-alpha 2] is one of the eight reserved forests of Imphal East district of Manipur. Covering an area of 67 square kilometers, it protects the forests of the Nongmaiching Ching mountains. [7] [8]
On February 16, 1966, it was notified for the first time, under the section 4 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, that the Nongmaiching Reserve Forest, covered an area of 74.7 square km. [1] [2] [3] [4]
On July 7, 1966, under the section 6 of the Act, the officer of the forest settlement proclaimed an invitation to claims and objections. It was responded by 20 claims. Among them, one is from Yamkhokhai, chief of Nongmaipal village. The forest survey officer settled the received claims and objections. [1] [2] [3] [4]
And finally, on January 4, 1990, under section 20 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, it was notified that the area of the Nongmaiching Reserve Forest was 67 square km. It was because an area covering 7.07 square km was spared from the Nongmaiching Reserved Forest areas, for settlement of the villagers. On 17 January 1990, the Manipur Gazette number 41 also published the notification informing about it. [1] [2] [3] [4]
The Nongmaipal village shifted its settlement area twice, from its former place in the years, 1985 and 1995. The villagers had their final settlement at the present site in the Nongmaiching Reserve Forest, violating the Indian Forest Act, 1927. [1] [2] [3] [4]
Later on, the village chief as well as other accomplices, encroaching the reserved forest areas, started stone mining activities as well as human settlements. Under the Indian Forest Act, they were arrested and fined. [1] [2] [3] [4]
On the World Environment Day 2022, the villagers violently attempted to stop the forest department officials and environment lovers from planting trees in the Nongmaiching Reserved Forest areas, claiming themselves as the authority over the reserved forest areas. Among the violent activities, they even tored the backdrop set up for the tree plantation drive. [1] [2] [3] [4] Later, the tribal criminals, including the village chief, were arrested. [9] [10]
In response to the unfortunate incident happened on the World Environment Day in the Nongmaiching reserved forest area, a joint meet of Coordinating Body Khurai, Joint Forest Management Committee and Laining Ejaat Kanba formed a committee named the "Nongmaiching Laiphamlen And Its Environment Preservation Committee" to safeguard the Nongmaiching Ching due to the fact that the mountain is a sacred place to the Meitei people. [11]
On 3 July 2018, the Forest Department of the Government of Manipur conducted an eviction drive at the illegally encroached areas in the areas of the Awaching (Kobithabi) in Nongmaiching Reserve Forest. [12] [13]
Hueiyen Lanpao, a newspaper service, inspected the areas affected by 2012 thunderstorm in the villages of Angourok, Sagolock, Awangching and Kangamthabi in Imphal East district. Many trees were missing, much more than those affected by the thunderstorm. Upon investigation, it was found out that most trees (which were around 20 years old) were cut down inside the Nongmaiching Reserved Forest area. It was also found out that the villagers living in Keirao, Langdum, Uran Chiru and Yaipharok Maring Khul, cut down the trees during night time and they transported the woods using the trucks during the day time. They also found out that the officials working in the Irilbung Forest Beat remain silent seeing all the illegal activities of deforestation happening under their nose. [14]
On the International Day of Forests 2013, the Forest Department of the Government of Manipur announced about a program for the replenishment of the green covers of the Nongmaiching. [15]
On the 73rd Van Mahotsav (transl. Forest Festival) in the year 2022, Nongthombam Biren, the then Manipur Chief Minister, led a plantation drive of plant saplings at the Eshing Chaibi area of the Nongmaiching Reserved Forest. [16] [17]
Claiming authority or ownership of the reserved forest areas, several tribals opposed the tree plantation programs organised by the Forest Department officials, resulting in violent conflicts many times.
In the year 2017, as a part of the Van Mahotsav (transl. Forest Festival) celebration, the forest department officials, along with workers, dug holes for the plantation of tree saplings inside the Nongmaiching reserved forest area. Unfortunately, the Maring tribals living in the Sandang Senba Maring village opposed the forestation program, by filling up the dug holes and sowing bean seeds, claiming their authority over the reserved forest areas. As a result, there was a strong conflict between the two parties. Later on, upon notifying the provisions of the law, the villagers stopped their actions. [18]
As a part of the celebration of the World Environment Day 2022, many environment lovers including the forest department officials of the Central Forest Division tried to plant trees in the Nongmaiching Reserve Forest. However, unfortunately, they were stopped violently by the Kuki tribal villagers of Nongmaipal village, attempting not to allow the planters the tree plantation activity. Upon investigation, the tribal villagers were found out to be illegally setting inside the reserved forest areas, violating the Indian Forest Act, 1927. Later, the tribal rebels were arrested under the law concerned. [1] [2] [3] [4]
The Kangla, officially known as the Kangla Fort, is an old fortified palace at Imphal, in the Manipur state of India. It was formerly situated on both sides of the bank of the Imphal River, now remaining only on the western side in ruined conditions. Kangla means "the prominent part of the dry land" in old Meetei. It was the traditional seat of the past Meetei rulers of Manipur.
Nongpok Ningthou, also known as the Sovereign of the East or King of the East, is a deity in Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. He is the ruling guardian deity of the eastern direction. Legend says Nongpok Ningthou and his consort Panthoibi were united in the Nongmaiching Ching mountains. Later, they were worshipped as the civilization giving deities in Meitei religion.
The social movement of Meitei language to achieve the officially recognised status of the "Classical language of India" is advocated by various literary, political, social associations and organisations as well as notable individual personalities of Bangladesh, Myanmar, Northeast India.
The Kangla Sanathong, also known as the Kangla Gate, is the western entrance gate to the Kangla Fort in Imphal West district of Kangleipak.
The Hijagang is a boathouse inside the Kangla Fort in Imphal, India. It houses four traditional Meitei watercraft, including two hiyang hirens and two tanna his. According to Meitei religious beliefs, the hiyang hirens are used by the male ancestral deity and female ancestral deity and are sacred to the Meiteis, the major ethnic group of Manipur.
There are three notable museums inside the Kangla Fort in Imphal West district of Kangleipak, which are the Kangla Museum, the Archaeological Museum and the Memento Museum. Some people also count the Hijagang as a museum.
Kangla Nongpok Torban or Eastern Bank of the Kangla is a riverside recreation area, on the eastern bank of the Imphal River in Imphal, Manipur, India. It was developed under the aegis of Imphal Smart City Limited. With the length of approximately 700 metres (2,300 ft), it covers its area from the Sanjenthong Bridge in the South to the Nongpok Thong of Kangla Fort in the North.
Events in the year 2022 in Manipur
In Meitei mythology and Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur, Kanglā shā is a sacred guardian beast with a lion's body and a two-horned dragon's head, with two horns. It is a royal symbol of the Meitei royalties . The most remarkable statues dedicated to "Kangla Sa" stand inside the Kangla.
The Kangla Nongpok Thong, shortly known as the Nongpok Thong, is the Eastern Gate Bridge of the Kangla Fort of Imphal, Kangleipak . With the re-opening of the modern Eastern Gate of the Kangla, the Kangla Western Gate was closed forever, under the leadership of Nongthombam Biren, the then Chief Minister of Manipur, due to the traditional Meitei belief that the western gate is regarded as the gate of the dead and it is ominous to enter the Kangla through the western doorway.
The Marjing Polo Complex is a sports complex dedicated to ancient Meitei deity Marjing, Sagol Kangjei and Meitei horse, built in the hilltop of the Heingang Ching, the sacred abode of God Marjing, located in Heingang, Imphal East district, Kangleipak . It houses Marjing Polo Statue, the world's tallest equestrian statue of a polo player.
The Heingang Ching, also known as the Meitei: Marjing Hill, is a hill in Heingang, Imphal East district of Kangleipak. In Meitei mythology and religion (Sanamahism), Heingang Ching is a sacred mountain and the home of God Marjing, the ancient Meitei deity of Sagol Kangjei, Khong Kangjei, and Meitei horse.
The Nongmaiching Ching, also known as the Selloi Langmai Ching, is a mountain in Imphal Valley, Manipur. It has an altitude of around 5,133 feet (1,565 m). It is a holy pilgrimage site for the Meitei people. In Meitei mythology and religion (Sanamahism), it is a sacred mountain and the abode of God Nongpok Ningthou and Goddess Panthoibi. In Meitei folklore, the Nongmaiching is described as the hill that produces "the seven days of a week".
The Lainingthou Sanamahi Kiyong, officially known as the Laiyingthou Sanamahi Kiyong, is a temple of God Lainingthou Sanamahi of Meitei religion (Sanamahism), built on the Nongmaiching mountain in the Imphal East district of Kangleipak. It is a center of the Sanamahism followers in Manipur. It is the central body of the "Sanamahi Lainingkol" at Chingoi Maru Langmaiching (Nongmaiching).
The Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board (LSTB) is a temple development board of the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple, Haying Khongban Uphong Yumpham, Imphal West district of Kangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur'). It is dedicated not only to God Lainingthou Sanamahi and Goddess Leimarel Sidabi of Sanamahism, but also to the other ancient Meitei gods and goddesses of the traditional Meitei religion.
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The Lainingthou Sanna Mahee Sanna Pung, Kangleipak, also known as the Lainingthou Sanamahi Sanapung (LSSP), is a non-governmental organization of the followers of the Sanamahism, dedicated to God Lainingthou Sanamahi and other ancient Meitei deities of Kangleipak.
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As a part of Van Mahotsav celebration, Forest Department hired workers and dug holes for planting saplings on June 15 but villagers of Sandang Senba Maring village filled up the holes and sowed bean seeds. This resulted in a confrontation between the two neighbouring villages .