Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday strongly urged the people in the state not to dump waste into rivers and contruct toilets by riverbanks, but to plant more trees for a Green Manipur.
"Do not dump waste into the river but put them in a dustbin so that it could be collected from their residence by concerned authorities," the chief minister said after flagging off the Royal Riders’ Motorcycle Rally to spread awareness on World Environment Day 2022.
The chief minister was addressing the World Environment Day 2022 function held at the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) site, Heirangoithong Maibam Leikai, Imphal East.
The state level function was organized by the Directorate of Environment & Climate Change.
Tree plantation target
Biren stated that the state government is targeting to plant 75 lakh saplings across the state by August this year.
The initiative is being taken up as a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to mark 75 years of Independence, he said.
Lauding the Royal Riders Manipur concept of spreading awareness on saving the earth, Biren also asked them to initiate plantation of trees in hill districts.
Green Manipur Mission: Every college to undertake tree plantation
Stressing on ensuring that the target of 75 lakh saplings plantation is achieved, Biren called for allocating each college in the state with the task of carrying out plantation drives at one hill each located in the valley areas.
Biren said that tree saplings for the same would be provided by the Horticulture and Forest Department while the expenses are to be borne by the Forest Department.
The chief minister also sought the support and involvement of all sections of people, local clubs and different Riders’ groups in the initiative to mitigate the degradation of environment and climate change.
“Hills are for the world, not for personnel,” he said and called for all to stop claiming the plantation of trees as an individual effort.
Biren said tree plantation had been carried out at around 300 hectares of land under the Green Manipur Mission so far and the plantation drive is still going on.
Rs 300 crore for conservation of water bodies
The chief minister also said that an amount of around Rs 300 crore had been allocated for conservation of water bodies at Lamphelpat.
Sewage Treatment Plant of Heirangoithong
Speaking about the Sewage Treatment Plant of Heirangoithong, he stated that household wastes from 73 drains, along the Nambul River, are brought to the Treatment Plant through pipelines. The treated water would be used for irrigation covering 43 hectares of adjacent agricultural land, he said.
Conserving Loktak Lake - do not contruct toilets in the riverbank
Biren also said that conserving Loktak Lake will not be possible by cleaning the Loktak lake but that all tributaries that flow to the lake should be kept neat and clean.
"Do not construct toilets in the riverbank or inside the riverbed," he said, adding that in some parts of the river some people used the water for drinking.
Rejuvenation of rivers
Biren said rejuvenation of other rivers would also be started and appealed to all the public to support and take their part in making Green Manipur a reality.
Forest and Environment Minister Th Biswajit said that the Forest and Environment Department is taking up steps to revive around 1,384 spring sources and also conserve around 1591 water bodies in the state.
Biswajit stressed on the plan of the department to rejuvenate major polluted rivers of the state.
He announced that the state government plans to set up a Sewage Treatment Plant at Porompat for treatment of waste generated from Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences by preventing the waste from flowing into Kongba River.
This would help in preventing pollution of the river, he added.
Pony Protection
Biren mentioned that the state government has already informed the owners of horse (pony) to take care of ponies and avail the facilities to keep their ponies provided by the state government located at Marjing Pony Complex at Pangei, Imphal East and Campus of Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association, Lamphelpat, Imphal West.
If not kept at an allocated location, then the state government will conduct an auction, he added.
“Don’t blame only the state government for protecting the precious ponies of the state, the owners should also cooperate in protecting the ponies,” Biren said.
Women's participation
Forest and Environment Minister Th Biswajit expressed happiness on seeing involvement of many women in the World Environment Day observation.
The minister urged the public to start planting trees and take part in conserving nature as the temperature is rising in the state owing to climate change. “Only trees can give air and water for living beings and saving the earth,” the minister said.
As a part of the programme, the chief minister led the other dignitaries in planting tree sapling at the STP site. World Environment Day Stickers and T-shirts and Caps were also released.
Brand Ambassador, CM’s Green Manipur Mission Miss Valentina Elangbam was also felicitated during the programme.
The programme was also attended by MLA for Langthabal AC, Karam Shyam; Chief Secretary, Rajesh Kumar; Additional Chief Secretary MH Khan, Principal chief conservator of Forest AK Joshi; Vice Chancellor of Dhanamanjuri University N Rajmuhon Singh; Director of Environment & Climate Change Y Nabachandra Singh and Joint Director T Brajakumar of directorate of environment and climate change.
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