IT News
Imphal, June 6,
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has said that the State Government will launch a campaign known as ‘Green Manipur, Clean Manipur’ with a solemn objective to protect environment and combat climate change soon. A Cabinet decision in this regard would be taken at the earliest, he added.
N. Biren Singh was speaking as the chief guest at the State level World Environment Day observation organised under the theme ‘Air Pollution’ by Directorate of Environment at the auditorium of Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS), Palace Compound, Imphal East yesterday.
Under the campaign, the Chief Minister said, the State Government would encourage every village of the State, both hill and valley, to protect or develop forest land each having an area of at least 5 to 10 acres. The Government would install open gym worth around Rs. 5 lakh each at these greenery areas so that people may do physical exercise or take rest there. Urban and semi urban localities, which do not have such land for forest development, would be encouraged to plant trees at their Umang Lai (Sylvan Deity) complexes.
He also said that the State Government would also put in effort to enact a law in consultation with Hill Areas Committee to check unnecessary and frequent shifting of habitation or village in hill areas. Stating that the World Environment Day observation would continue for a week in the State this year, the Chief Minister said that planting of saplings and imparting awareness on environment would go on during this week at all the educational institutions and Government office complexes.
N. Biren Singh said that when he was the Minister of Forest and Environment in 2004, the then State Government launched ‘Green Imphal, Clean Imphal’ campaign. As part of the campaign, the Chief Minister said, he led the State Government’s effort to start cleansing of Nambul River at polluted areas of Imphal city apart from beginning plantation of saplings on road sides and medians.
Speaking as the functional president, Forest and Environment Minister Th. Shyamkumar observed that people should have the mindset of feeling ashamed if they do not grow trees and plants at their residential complexes. He said that water scarcity that people are facing today is the impact of deforestation. In order to encourage planting of saplings and impart awareness on the importance of trees, the Minister said that Forest and Environment Department would present saplings instead bouquets and gifts in all its functions in future.
Lok Sabha MP Dr. R.K. Ranjan Singh, Tourism Corporation of Manipur Ltd. Chairman Dr. S Ranjan Singh, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest K. Angami, Environment Director Dr. Y. Nabachandra and Dean of School of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, Manipur University, Prof. N. Rajmuhon Singh also attended the function as dignitaries.
Later in the afternoon, N. Biren Singh, Th. Shyamkumar, Dr. S. Ranjan Singh and K. Angami also attended another World Environment Day observation and planted tree saplings at Heibokching in Imphal West District.
Earlier in the morning, they also attended World Environment Day observation held at Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School, Hunpung, Ukhrul. The dignitaries planted saplings at the school compound.
