Ex-Manipur CM Warns of Existential Crisis Over Poppy-Fueled Deforestation
Ex-Manipur CM Warns of Existential Crisis Over Poppy-Fueled Deforestation
Former Manipur CM warns that unchecked poppy cultivation and forest loss threaten indigenous communities as migration pressures from Myanmar raise concerns.
Former Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh has warned of an existential crisis in the state, citing the destruction of forests for illegal poppy plantations. The alert comes as the Joint Tribes Council Manipur (JTCM) filed a memorandum with the Prime Minister, urging attention to the impact of unchecked migration from Myanmar on the state's indigenous population.
A video shared from the Kangpokpi district shows poppy fields at Kolten and Selsi Hill Ranges near IT Road, illustrating the scale of cultivation in the area. Singh wrote on X that the footage explains why recurrent floods have struck the state and questioned why forest officials have not taken action against those destroying greenery. He warned that unless concrete steps are taken, the state could face an existential crisis.
The JTCM, an organization representing Nagas who are the second-largest group in Manipur, has highlighted that nearly 18 acres of illegal poppy cultivation have been destroyed and underscored concerns about the rising influx of migrants from war-torn Myanmar and from across the border. The group argues that the demographic shift poses risks to social security and the indigenous population.
Singh suggested that armed militants could be involved in the illicit activities and called for decisive action to curb forest destruction. The JTCM’s memorandum to the Prime Minister, conveyed through the Governor, requests intervention to ease the burden of migration on indigenous communities.
The issue sits at the intersection of environment, security, and identity in Manipur, with environmental damage linked to floods and broader social consequences. If left unchecked, activists warn that the situation could destabilize forest-dependent communities and threaten the region’s delicate social fabric.
Cover image source: Manipur will face existential crisis if action not taken against deforestation: Former CM Biren 🔗
