Bunning, Zeilad and Jiri-Makru Wildlife sanctuaries, a term only on paper

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 5: Three proposed wildlife sanctuaries, Bunning, Zeilad  and Jiri-Makru in Tamenglong district  are existing only on paper. There is not a single development in these proposed sanctuaries, found a team of journalists who visited the sites as part of the Know Your Sanctuaries and Wetlands campaign.
The month-long campaign was flagged off by Chief Minister N Biren Singh on January 31.
It may be noted that the State Government had declared the three sites as proposed wildlife sanctuaries in 1997. Even after 24 years, the journalists found the proposed sanctuaries lacking the essence of being a sanctuary. There was no development and the sites don’t even have a single signboard.
The journalists also found deforestation at many places for agriculture inside the three proposed sanctuaries.
The proposed Bunning Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of about 115.8 square kilometres while Zeilad and Jiri-Makru are about 21 sqkm and 198 sqkm in area.
At Bunning, the journalists found under construction PMGSY (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana) roads inside the proposed sanctuary. The rich flora and fauna of the Bunning include the pitcher plants.
Peter Newmai, chairman of Piyulong village at Bunning said the village had banned hunting and deforestation in 2018. The village has also taken resolution to relocate outside the proposed sanctuary, he said adding that the 62 households of the village would be thankful to the Government if they are provided with a model village to relocate.
At the proposed Zeilad wildlife sanctuary which has a different ecosystem of its own with 7 lakes, Zeiladjang village chairman Mathew Gonmei told the journalists that the villagers have taken resolution to prohibit deforestation. The Government should take the conservation  efforts seriously and take up necessary measures to make it a full fledged sanctuary, he added.
Regarding the Jiri-Makru proposed wildlife sanctuary, Tousem village chairman Ajon Zeme said the villagers are apprehensive that declaring the site a sanctuary would deprive them of their land by the Government.
He further stated that the Government should negotiate with the village on the land issue.
Phoklong village chairman N Pame also echoed the same concern. He said the villagers' main occupation is jhum cultivation and making the Jiri-Makru a full fledged sanctuary would deprive the villagers of their means to livelihood.
During the campaign, the journalists also visited the crash site of the Allied WW-II B-25 bomber at Thiulon village.