Erection or laying of foundation stones based on Church, Temple or Mosque at Mt Koubru would not be allowed or agreed on any terms and conditions, announced the ‘Committee on Protection and Preservation of Mount Koubru’ on Monday.
The committee is shocked and surprised to come across the new development based on religions/faith-based program on Mount Koubru by some vested interest groups whose intention is seemingly to incite social unrest between different faith and communities in the state and Sadar Hills, in particular, stated a press communiqué signed by the committee president Seimang Chongloi and joint secretary Thangminlen Kipgen.
Drawing attention and stating its position on Mount Koubru to the general public and the organisation ‘Mahousa KNBA Lup’, it stated that the committee as the name suggests, stands by its motto, ‘Save Mt. Koubru’ to preserve the ecological balance and biodiversity by way of minimising the overall human activity in Mt Koubru range.
It also stated that the committee has been actively involved in afforestation with the help of the state government and has been undertaking various measures deemed necessary to minimise the carbon footprint in the range and area of Mt Koubru.
“It has been highly unfortunate that the so-called Mahousa KNBA Lup is planning to lay a religious-based foundation stone at the peak of Mt. Koubru,” the organisation stated. While respecting and sympathizing all the religious sentiments of various faiths, it is against the sole objective of the committee to allow such human activities at Mt. Koubru as it would amount to an ecological imbalance of the area and its range, it added.
While the committee strongly advised all concerned including Mahousa KNBA Lup to respect and acknowledge the “status quo" of Mt. Koubru, the mountain should not become a bone of contention and contestation irrespective of caste, creed, language and faith for peace and harmony in the state and Sadar Hills in particular, it stated.
“No platform/forum nor community should try to claim ownership of Mt. Koubru based on particular religion or faith,” it asserted while adding the committee along with the local populace humbly welcomes and invites any group of people to conduct any rituals at Mt. Koubru anytime during any season.
It stated that all matters related to Mt. Koubru must be with prior knowledge, consent and participation of the locals and the Committee on Protection and Preservation of Mt. Koubru anytime and in any table or forum.
It also advised all concerned to withdraw or cancel any such programmes of laying religious-based foundation stones which may affect the ecological balance and cause detrimental effects to the peace and harmony between different faiths and communities in the state.
