SILCHAR : A campaign by lovers of nature and environmentalists has been launched to save Barak and its biodiversity due to the clandestine and often open harmful activities of poachers on the upper reaches of the river that originates from Nagaland and after meandering through Manipur comes down to the plains of Barak Valley. The river Barak is known for its vide variety of fish, vegetations and aquatic creatures. It is also the life line of supply of water to the people and their settlements in the hills and on the grounds. But, come winter and the poachers become active to hunt down fish and aquatic creatures with the use of explosives, taking advantage of the dry season and the reduced water level of the river. The campaigners, remaining anonymous against poaching, have through SMS across Tamenlong and Barak Valley reached out to people to create mass outrage against the heinous crime. The SMS says that when the river Barak has reduced level of water, its bed is bombed mercilessly by poachers in the upstream from Tamenlong to Jirimukh in Cachar. The scenario is not different, SMS says, in another river Tuiruon which also meets the same fate all along the Tamenlong-Jirimukh stretch. Fish and turtles as well as other aquatic creatures are killed indiscriminately. It is causing irreparable damage to ecology and environment. Moreover, the blasts to kill the creatures are causing pollution of both the rivers, Barak and Tuiruon which cannot but affect health and hygiene of people in the downstream who have to depend upon their water. In view of the enormity of the situation and the desperate activities of poachers, the naturalists and environmentalists of Manipur have appealed to people to put pressure on the administration of their areas to act in order to save Barak, its aquatic creatures as well as biodiversity. They have also sought the help and cooperation of the NGOs, social and cultural bodies to join hands together and raise voice to keep the poachers and hunters at bay, besides causing legal action against them by the authorities concerned under the relevant provisions of law.