CM Biren resents claim of land ownership in hill areas
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, June 05 2022: Stating that forest covers in the hills of the state plays a major role in maintaining a favourable climate in the state, chief minister N Biren has urged all concerned not to lay claims of ownership of hills as they belong to the Mother Nature and not to any particular community.

The CM was addressing the gathering of the World Environment Day observance held at Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) site located at Heirangoithong Maibam Leikai, here on Sunday.

The state level observance was organised by the Directorate of Environment & Climate Change on the United Nation's theme 'Only One Earth' .

Expressing concern over the decreasing forest cover in the hill areas, the CM also stressed the need for replenishing the forest cover.

Unfortunately, some individuals or groups are imposing restrictions on conducting tree plantation programmes in the hills, he noted, while urging all concerned to stop claiming ownership on hills as all the hills belong to the Mother Nature and not to any particular community.

The CM informed that 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.

An amount of around Rs 300 crore had been allocated for conservation of water bodies at Lamphelpat, he added.

Biren also said 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 part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to mark 75 years of India's independence.

To ensure achievement of the plantation target, CM Biren stressed the need to assign each college in the state the task to carry out plantation drive at one each hillock located in and around valley areas.

Tree saplings for the same would be provided by horticulture and forest department while the expenses are to be borne by forest department, he explained and sought support and involvement of all sections of people, local clubs and different riders' groups in the initiative to mitigate degradation of environment and climate change.

Regarding the Sewage Treatment Plant where the function was held, CM Biren pointed out that household wastes from 73 drains along 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.

Rejuvenation of other rivers would also begin soon, he said and urged the public not to dump waste into the river, but put them in a dustbin so that it could be collected from their residences by agencies concerned.

He also appealed to the public to support and take their part in making Green Manipur a reality.

Speaking at the event, Forest and Environment minister Th Biswajit expressed happiness on seeing involvement of many women in the World Environment Day observance.

The forest and environment department is taking up steps to revive around 1384 spring sources and also to conserve around 1591 water bodies in the state, he said, while adding that priority would be given to the plans for rejuvenating major polluted rivers of the state.

He also informed that the government has made a plan to set up a Sewage Treatment Plant at Porompat for treatment of waste generated from Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences to avoid the waste from flowing into Kongba River.

This would help in preventing pollution of the river, the minister added.

Expressing concern over the rising temperature in the state owing to climate change, Biswajit urged the public to sthrt planting trees and take part in conserving nature.

According to Langthabal MLA Karam Shyam, observance of World Environment Day under the theme 'Only One Earth' reminds us that the whole world is a family, and it is the responsibility of every citizen to save the nature.

He stressed on the need for a collective responsibility in giving a true meaning to the observance of World Environment Day and appealed to everyone to plant a tree on the day.

Chief secretary Dr Rajesh Kumar, additional chief secretary MH Khan, principal chief conservator of forest AK Joshi, Dhanarnanjuri University vice-chancellor professor N Rajmuhon, environment & climate change director Dr Y Nabachandra, officials of environment department and members of Royal Riders Manipur also attended the programme among others.

As a part of the programme, the CM led other dignitaries in planting tree sapling at the STP site.

World Environment Day stickers, T-shirts and Caps were also released on the occasion and CM's Green Manipur Mission brand ambassador Valentina Elangbam felicitated.

Later, Biren flagged off a motorcycle rally of Royal Riders Manipur to spread awareness on World Environment Day.

The riders also carried out a tree plantation programme at Kangla.

On the other hand, MLA Karam Shyam led tree plantation programmes at Chajing Lakpa Pureiromba Eco Park Lilong Chajing and Heibok Hill Range as part of World Environment Day observance.

Speaking on the occasion, Karam Shyam noted that the present generation is planting trees with the objective to provide a safer environment for the future generations.

Earth is the only planet where the human and other living beings can survive and it is the responsibility of every person to contribute in conserving the environment and fight climate change.

Apart from planting saplings, providing care so that the saplings could grow up fully is very important, he said, while urging the local people to take good care of the saplings planted.

Wildlife division of the forest department in association with United Club and Library (UCAL) Uripok also organised a tree plantation programme in the premises and surrounding of the club on Sunday.

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