The Tangkhul Naga Foothills Organization (TNFO) hereby categorically declares that poppy cultivation shall not be permitted in the foothill areas of Ukhrul, Kamjong, and Kangpokpi districts of Manipur, irrespective of community or affiliation.
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This declaration is made in accordance with Resolution No. 3 adopted during the General Meeting of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of TNFO held on 25th February 2026.
The resolution is necessitated by the alarming scale of forest destruction, soil erosion, depletion of water sources including brooks and rivers, contamination of water bodies, and the adverse environmental consequences that significantly contribute to climate change. It has also been observed that poppy cultivation has become a contributing factor to the influx of illegal migrant labourers from outside the state, which has directly or indirectly aggravated communal tensions in Manipur.
It may be recalled that previous attempts by the Forest Department to conserve reserve and protected forests from large-scale deforestation due to poppy cultivation and confrontation by Kuki’s constitutes a substantiating key factor, which subsequently escalated into communal unrest in recent years.
Furthermore, this decision aligns with the State Government’s “War on Drugs” campaign, which seeks to eliminate narcotics-related activities for the greater good of society.
‘The TNFO therefore calls upon all citizens, civil society organizations, and concerned stakeholders to extend full cooperation and support in enforcing this prohibition, with the shared objective of safeguarding our environment, maintaining social harmony, and ensuring a sustainable and inclusive future for generations to come” stated the press release issued by Information & Publicity Cell, Central Working Committee of the Tangkhul Naga Foothills Organization (TNFO).
