The Forest Department, Government of Manipur, in the presence of Anurag Bajpai, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, signed two significant MoUs with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Friday for strengthening protection and communication networks across forest revenue stations and preventing forest and wildlife offences in the state, which may eventually lead to enhanced revenue collection. The MoUs were signed by senior officials of the Forest Department, BSNL, and AAI at a simple ceremony held at the Forest Headquarters, Sanjenthong, Imphal.
The ceremony was attended by R.K. Amarjit Singh, Conservator of Forests (Central Circle); B.S. Sharma, General Manager, BSNL; Chipemmi Keishing, Director (AAI); Amit Kaler, DCF; Vikram Nadhe, DFO (Central Forest Division); Sharatchandra Meitei, DGM (BSNL); M. Sanjeev Singh, Sub-Divisional Engineer (BSNL); and Sandeep Yadav, HoD (Commercials), AAI.
The collaboration with BSNL marks a significant step towards modernising forest administration through resilient, secure, and high-speed communication networks. Under the MoU titled “Networking & Communication Infrastructure for Forest Revenue Stations of Manipur”, BSNL, in close coordination with the Forest Department, will design, deploy, and maintain advanced networking solutions to enhance digital access and streamline departmental operations.
This initiative aims to ensure seamless data transmission, real-time reporting, improved coordination, and effective monitoring of the movement of forest resources across the state. Key objectives of the MoU with BSNL include: infrastructure deployment through Optical Fibre Cable (OFC), UBR/DMW for Divisional HQs, Range Offices and Beat Offices; surveillance and monitoring through GPS-enabled mobile devices for frontline staff; IP-based CCTV, ANPR cameras, trap cameras at strategic forest check posts; drone units for aerial surveillance; and the setting up of a Central Command and Control Centre (4Cs) at the Forest Headquarters. The project will be implemented in a phased manner and is expected to be completed in three years.
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Further, the agreement with AAI is for opening an office at Imphal International Airport to support seamless coordination of activities aimed at strengthening environmental governance, wildlife protection, and forest-related regulatory functions, and preventing illegal trafficking of forest and wildlife articles at one of the busiest gateways of the state, connecting to other states and South-East Asian countries. The office is expected to become operational soon following the establishment of necessary infrastructure. The partnership underscores the collective commitment of the Government of Manipur and AAI towards sustainable development and robust forest and wildlife governance.
Speaking on the occasion, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and HoFF thanked both organisations for supporting the protection and conservation of forests and the environment. He stated that the partnership with BSNL will greatly enhance the efficiency, transparency, and responsiveness of field operations. Reliable connectivity, he said, is critical for forest protection, revenue enhancement, and monitoring the movement of forest produce. Such an initiative will be the first of its kind in the state of Manipur.
The General Manager, BSNL, highlighted their commitment to supporting government departments with robust and secure communication solutions and contributing to the digital strengthening of Manipur’s forest administration through this strategic collaboration.
The Director (AAI) emphasised the importance of environmental responsibility in aviation infrastructure and mentioned that AAI is committed to supporting sustainable practices across all its airports. This partnership with the Forest Department reinforces their dedication to environmental stewardship and regulatory compliance.
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