Biren bats for “Green Manipur”

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, June 5, 2019: Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh today promised to launch ‘Green Manipur, Clean Manipur’ campaign soon to protect environment and combat climate change.

For this a Cabinet decision would be taken at the earliest, the chief minuster added.

Biren was speaking 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, Palace Compound, Imphal East.

Under the campaign, Biren said, the state government would encourage every village of the state 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 added.

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, the chief minister said.

He said planting of saplings and imparting awareness on environment would go on during this week long celebration of the environment day at all the educational institutions and government office complexes.

Forest and environment minister Th. Shyamkumar said people should feel ashamed if they fail to grow trees and plants at their residential complexes. He said 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  forest and environment department would present saplings instead bouquets and gifts in all its functions in future.

Biren, Shyamkumar, MP Dr. S. Ranjan Singh and prnciosl chief conservator of forest K. Angami also attended another World Environment Day observation and planted tree saplings at Heibokching in Imphal West.

Earlier in the morning, Biren, Shyamkumar and CAF and PD mnister Karam Shyam also attended World Environment Day observation held at Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School, Hunpung, Ukhrul and planted saplings at the school compound.