For the environment – together we can make it
- Imphal Times Editorial :: June 24 2019 -

Development is a multi dimensional concept covering political, economic, social, cultural, spatial, scientific, technological, moral, spiritual, ecological and environment development.

Everybody is aware of the ecological deterioration and environment degradation, but none acted to do something to save it.

Every pedestrians see plastic bottle, and other waste scattered in our footpath.

But, ‘blame’ to those who threw it or perhaps to the government authority is the reaction.

He or she will not pick it up to throw it to the right place.

There are many who talks saving our environment, rivers and forest.

But everyday the thousand people dump their waste at the roadsides, threw garbage at the river smuggled woods using any unfair means.

Some waited for camera to take a shot while planting a sapling to show their love for the mother nature but will never look back to see whether the sapling he or she planted is grown.

It is we human being, which is responsible for the crime committee towards the nature.

The recent flood across the country including Manipur is fall out of what we human being had committee for hundreds of years.

Deterioration of nature is more seen to less develop and developing countries.

City based intellectuals who visited only once or twice to complete their thesis keep blaming the ignorance of the common people who have less knowledge of saving the environment as survival is more important for them.

Schemes and projects always turn a flop show as they were prepared on table without studying the need of the people residing in interior forest land.

And the money which are meant for the environment are gold mine for those working on the table.

The state of Manipur had witness five times devastating flood since N. Biren Singh took charge of Chief Minister.

Again the people of the state now witness scanty rainfall, which flooded most part of Imphal city but keep the cultivable field dry.

Almost all cultivable land of the state still remains dry.

Farmers in the state now fear that they would not be able to start their cultivation work.

If the paddy field remains dry the way it is, we don’t need any fortune teller or scientist to predict that Manipur may face famine.

Discussions over the issues only put the blame to common people of both Hill and Valley area who never had any knowledge of how much money has been sanctioned for the preservation of the forest land in their respective land.

Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s new initiative – Green Manipur Mission is perhaps an appreciating initiative.

However, it is skeptical to most people as the Mission to make Manipur Green seems rather a publicity matter.

A proper planning to make sure that such an initiative continues to make Manipur a real green state.

It may be mention that for the first time in the history of Manipur , A village called Ringui in Ukhrul district donated around 600 ares of land to an NGO to make the area green.

Though the village is far from Imphal with limited access of Education, they have showed their enthusiasm in protecting the environment and rebuilding a forest.

Forest and Environment Minister, Th Shyamkumar had assured to make the piece of land as a forest zone but the promised he made is still yet to see into action.

The good service of the villagers of Ringui will not only make their village famous but will help in reducing the global warming, even though it might effect only .00001%.

If more villages in the state of Manipur started donating land for plantation of trees than Manipur will set another example in the protection of the environment in the whole country.

What remains skeptical is the sincerity of the forest department authority.

Well the challenges before the country particularly in the state of Manipur is to preserve and protect the natural environment or revive it where it has been degraded.

It must be remembered that the problem of environmental degradation is social problem which has to be solved by the people themselves with some sort of policy and programme from the government.

A short term course in Ecology and Environment al Awareness should be arranged for the benefit of the elected representatives starting from PRI, Municipalities, corporation, MLAs, MPs, Development planners and administrators which would give them a proper understanding of nature, the important of flora and fauna and other natural resources especially forest wealth and their management.

The recent series of activities taken up by the state government however showed some enthusiasm to save the environment.

At the same time making people aware about the issue is also important to protect the environment.