Imphal, July 13 2009: The Manipur Legislative Assembly today unanimously resolved to form a State Level Committee to save the lakes (wetlands) of Manipur.

The resolution was adopted following enthusiastic discussions among the ruling and Opposition Members on a calling attention motion moved by O Joy of MPP in the House.

It is worth mentioning here that the senior Opposition Member moved the calling attention motion based on a news report published in the Hueiyen Lanpao on June 11 last.

Drawing the attention of the House, O Joy said, the global environmental imbalance is worsening day by day.

If this is allowed to continue unchecked, after some years, there will be casualties in different parts of the world.

There is drought in states of India like Punjab and West Bengal.

Even in Manipur, we are facing a drought situation.

This is because of heavy imbalance caused in the environment, the MLA said.

He further informed the House that since the degree of temperature has risen day by day, there are times when one can not sit in Manipur. Joy asked, "Therefore, we'd like to know what steps has the government taken to prevent to protect the environment and ecology?" Quoting the news report published in the Hueiyen Lanpao, O Joy said, previously there were 155 lakes in Manipur.

Out of these, 133 had vanished.

Now only 19 lakes are remaining.

While all the lakes were intact, the total areas of water used to be 52,959 hectares.

But now it has been reduced to 10,661 hectares only, which is really frightening, he said.

He said, according to verification made by the Environment and Ecology Wing on March 2 last, only Pumlen (Khoidum) Pat (lake), Ekop (Kharung) Pat, Loushi Pat, Waithou (Punnem) Pat, Ahongbeekhong Pat, Ushoipokpi Pat, Sana Pat, Utra Pat, Tena Pat, Kharam Pat, Lamphel Pat, Yaral Pat, Heingang Pat, Jaleng Pat and Loktak Pat are still remaining.

Joy further said that the issues of power, water and road communication are easy matters.

What is important is the oxygen to breathe.

At this juncture, what is the government doing, what policy has been formulated and what are being contemplated of taking up, he wanted to know from the government.

Replying to the motion, Forest and Environment Minister Th Devendra said, the issue is a global issue.

A single country can not be held responsible for the situation.

Therefore, it is necessary for every individuals, political activists, NGOs, Civil Society Organisations, etc.

to join hands and make a concerted effort to face the problem of rising temperature and climatic changes in the world.

Unless we all are united in this effort, we will not be able to face the problem of global warming, the Minister said.

Quoting experts, Minister Devendra informed the House that if the present day global warming continues, the question arises whether mankind would be able to live in the world by 2050 ad.

Some experts had expressed their fear that about 375 million people will be affected by the global warming by 2015 AD.

The Minister further said that this is all because of the increased production of carbon dioxide daily.

The production level of methane and nitrus oxide is also rising.

This results in the melting of ice mountains in the northern and southern hemisphere causing a rise in the sea level.

After a few years the Maldive islands may sink in the ocean.

Now also people are beginning to evacuate the islands, he said.

Devendra said, deforestation and vanishing wetlands have drastically affected the environment.

Earlier the US and the Great Britain did not appear to take this matter seriously, but now-a-days they have turned their attention towards the climate change.

Even China and India have also started taking measures to control pollution.

He said, the only means to save the mankind from the impending dangers is to protect the forests and the wetlands, to reduce use of fuel and energy, etc.

There is no other means.

If trees are planted in 1 hectare of land, about 1,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide will be absorbed by the trees to make their food and they will release about 30,000 tonnes of oxygen.

Therefore, planting trees is an important means to save from the changing climate, the Minister said.

He informed the House that Rs 1 crore has been allocated in the annual budget to protect the wetlands and save the environment.

Apart from this, the government is requesting the Planning Commission to give Rs 50 crore in relation to the 13th Finance Commission's award.

It is expected that at least Rs 30 crore will be received.

Besides, now there is an understanding that two percent of the budget amount must be reserved for the protection of environment, Minister Devendra told the House.

After listening to the Minister with rapt attention, MLA Joy rose and taunted him saying that with all that lecture on protection of the lakes and environment, and allotting only Rs 1 crore...

"Onthok Onthokpa!" .

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