Biren distributes Rs 1.54 crores to 3080 Eco-club schools

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, August 31, 2019: Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh distributed Rs. 1.54 crore to 3080 district Eco-club schools of the state through respective deputy commissioners and member secretaries of district implementation and monitoring committees (DIMCs) at a function held at Durbar hall of chief minister’s secretariat on Saturday.

The function was organised by Manipur Pollution Control Board under National Green Corps (NGC) Programme, 2018-19.

Biren said there is a pressing need for effective implementation of environment related programmes like NGC Programme considering climate change impact being witnessed across the globe. The state government has taken up some dedicated steps like launching of Green Manipur mission to tackle climate change and global warming, he said.

He expressed hope that naming of nine-year-old Valentina Elangbam, an ardent tree-lover, as the Green Ambassador of Manipur by the state government would certainly encourage and motivate people to plant more trees. He informed that over 1400 tree saplings were distributed to those who came to meet him on Meeyamgi Numit on Friday.

Manipur Pollution Control Board has also been working hard in every possible manner to tackle pollution in the state. Works related to Nambul Rejuvenation Project are underway, and DPRs for similar projects of other rivers are also being drafted for submission to the Centre, he informed.

The chief minister also emphasised on the need to do every work with sincerity and dedication. In order to reduce noise and air pollution, the chief minister said, diesel auto-rickshaws should be phased out and replaced by e-rickshaws. Stating that rampant deforestation and large scale poppy plantation in the hills creates excessive soil erosion, the chief minister urged the people to stop poppy plantation as it has become the main reason for siltation of rivers and lakes.

He also expressed satisfaction that 267 villages of Ukhrul district under the guidance of Tangkhul Naga Long had come forward to set aside 5 to 10 acres of land in every village for forest conservation under the CM’s Green Manipur Mission.

Regarding Socio Economic Caste Census, the chief minister said that there are many discrepancies in the existing SECC database. Many needy and deserving people were left out while many well-to-do families were found categorised as needy families in the said database. As such, the government is facing a huge difficulty in implementing schemes meant for needy people, he said.

The chief minister cautioned that the state government would not tolerate any irregularity in data collection and spare any wrongdoer this time. He asked enumerators and officials concerned of the ongoing Economic Census to visit each and every household to avoid discrepancies.

Forest and environment minister Th. Shyamkumar, education minister Th. Radheshyam, tribal affairs and hills minister N. Kayisii, Manipur Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker K. Robindro, Manipur Pollution Control Board Chairman L. Radhakishore and additional chief secretary (forest and environment) Dr. Suhel Akhtar also attended the function.

NGC programme is being implemented in the state with Manipur Pollution Control Programme as the Nodal Agency. Under the programme, 200 Eco-clubs were established for the first time in different schools across nine districts of the state in 2004. Every district has a DIMC to implement the programme with respective DCs as the chairman. The member secretaries of the committees in consultation with the teacher in-charge of the schools having Eco-clubs organise different programmes to impart awareness on environment protection.

The chief minister also extended a monetary assistance of Rs. 50,000 to ailing veteran journalist N. Deben at the function.