Nagaland Forest Minister, MC Konyak adressing the audience on the ocassion of the 60th Republic Day celebration in Longleng Town on January 26.
A press release received here today from the General Secretary (Admn) and Sokesman of BJP, Nagaland informed that the minister was accompanied by Conservator of Forest, Nagaland, Blooming Ao, DFO Tuensang, Tongpang, DFO Mokokchung Sosang and a host of Longleng district administrative, police and other departments as well as Longleng Town Council Chairman and public leaders while he visited the Kangnyu Reserve Forest, Yongshei village. A meeting with the Yongshei Village Council and village was also held. The visiting officials were immensely impressed by the standard of the maintenance of the more than 900 hectares, the release stated.
“Kangnyu Community reserve forest, which, through years of consistent hard work and dedication by the villagers Yongshei had survived, with thousands of extra ordinarily tall trees standing magnificently, giving safe and comfortable haven to wild birds and animals of various types,” the release stated and added that the Kangnyu Reserve Forest, “revered by the villagers of Yongshei as a Sacred forest”, has been examined with keen interest by the Forest Department, Nagaland to convert it into a ‘Community Reserve forest’.
The release also asserted that the forest, once it is given proper care for improvement and beautification, then it will become a venue of strong tourist attraction and study.
In appreciation of ‘their far sighted collective effort in preserving the Kangnyu Reserve Forest’, the Minister handed over Rs 50,000 to the chairman of the Yongshei village council, H Humnyei for further maintenance of the forest. The Forest Department ‘is expected to expedite necessary action and contributed Rs 10,000 towards the construction of Yongshei Baptist church’, the release informed.
It also informed that the Forest Minister, MC Konyak, on January 27, along with the Forest Department officials visited the betel leaf ultivation spread along the valley of the Dikhu river of Tamlu area and met with the villager, council members and public leaders who received the team on the bank of confluence point of Tapo and Tikhu rivers, where, construction of the Dikhu Hydro Electric Project is in process.
The release while stating that the visiting dignitaries, while appreciating the successful trade of the betel leaf by the villagers of Tamlu villagers, advised the cultivators to increase their production as there is no better substitute to such cash crops. Furthermore, the release informed that the Forest Minister, MC Konyak graced the Republic function at Longleng as the chief guest and took the Republic Day salute from several contingents comprising of school children, police and other uniformed units, and also delivered the 60th Republic Day speech at the function which was held at the Longleng Town Play ground.