Efforts should be made to conserve wetlands: Ganesan

Imphal: Governor of Manipur La. Ganesan said that all out efforts should be put in place to save and conserve wetlands in the state at the World Wetlands Day observation held at Sendra, Moirang sub-division of Bishnupur district on Thursday.

​Ganesan said, the significance of observing the day is to make aware all about the importance of wetlands in our life. He said, wetlands play an important role in balancing our environment thereby many living beings including the human beings are able to survive. Many resources which are important for living beings are provided by the wetlands around us.

He continued that however, many degrading and disrupting activities have been continuing which affects the normal ecology of the wetlands causing ecological imbalance and climate change. Cautioning such activities he said, all disrupting activities like encroachment should be checked and nobody should be allowed to do so.

​On the conservation of Loktak lake, the governor said, government alone cannot conserve the lake. He said, all stakeholders including NGOs and people should cooperate with each other and help the government through various initiatives being taken up to restore and conserve the lake. All are responsible for the conservation of wetlands particularly the Loktak lake, he added.

​Forest Environment and Climate Change minister Th. Biswajit Singh said, state government has been trying to save and conserve wetlands. He said, 168 wetlands have been identified in the state and steps to conserve the same have been taken up. He further said that proposals have been sent to the Environment ministry and for the first phase four wetlands will be developed. Citing the importance of wetlands, he appealed people to resolve for the conservation of wetlands in the state.

Chairman MSPDCL T. Robindro Singh, chairman, MLA Thongam Shanti Singh, and Loktak Development Authority chairman M. Asnikumar Singh urged people to cooperate in the process of complete rejuvenation of the Loktak lake and other wetlands in the state.