World Environment Day TSE presents documentary on 'The Untold Story'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 05 2011: The deep negative impact on earth owing to environmental degradation was widely deliberated in various programmes held across the State to mark World Environment Day celebration today.

The theme of this year's celebration was 'Forests: Nature at your service' .

The United Nations has also announced 2011 as International Year of Forests.

The Sangai Express organised a discussion session on 'Climate Change' coinciding with the day at Manipur Press Club today.

A 10-minute documentary film entitled, The Untold Story was released by All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) President A Mobi as part of the session.

Directed by Senior Staff Reporter of The Sangai Express, Laishram Shamungou, the film portrays the hardships being faced by the people of Chamu village, 135 Kms away from Ukhrul district headquarters along Indo-Myanmar border.

The resource persons and moderator at the documentary release function of Untold Story

The villagers cut down pine trees to use its splinters for lighting at night in the absence of power supply.

The 10-minute film portrays the acute hardships faced by the people of the unelectrified village before the installation of solar lighting system.

Chamu village is dominated by the Tangkhul tribe in Ukhrul district bordering Myanmar.

The light from the burning pine splinters helped the students to study in the night.

Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency (MANIREDA) recently installed solar lamps at the village.

Director of College Development Council of Manipur University, Dr RK Ranjan spoke on the topic 'Climate change and food security' in the discussion session.

Maintaining that Asian countries would bear the brunt global climate change in food production , Dr RK Ranjan said that if the current trend continues, the region would witness triple times fall in food grain production in the coming few decades as compared to the rate of 1950s.Increase rate of malnutrition, unpredictable natural calamities, menace of vector borne diseases like dengue and malaria would plague the country's progress in the coming years, RK Ranjan added.

Associate Professor of Life Science Department of Manipur University, Dr P Kumar spoke on the topic, 'Climate change and its impact on native plants' .

He said that some plants and trees brought from other parts of the world have become threats to the native plants of the State.

Dr P Kumar added that a plant known as paragrass (tujombi in local parlance) has covered almost all the vegetation areas of Loktak Lake thereby killing many indigenous plants.

As the plant has started reaching parts of Keibul Lamjao, the natural habitat of Sangai, it is time to control its further expansion as it may annihilate the growth of the natural fodder of the endangered species.

Paragrass was first brought to the State as fodder.

Likewise in Siroy hills as well, certain species of bamboo is disturbing in the natural growth and blossoming of Siroy lilies, he added.

Informing the alarming situation of disappearance of many endemic plants in the State, Dr RK Ranjan said, Manipur now has only 134 varieties of plants which are classified under the category of native/endemic species.

Taking part in the discussion session, Environment and Ecology Wing Scientist Dr Brajakumar said, if the if the current trend of environmental degradation continues, Manipur would become a barren land by 2080 .

He also predicted that the State would witness increase of 2 to 4 degree Celsius by 2020.Dr Brajakumar also informed the gathering that 40 percent in annual rainfall would be affected thereby giving a great blow to food production.

In order to check the possible crisis, Dr Brajakumar said, the State Government has chalked out a State Action Plan following strict directive from the Centre.

The Government has formed three committees High Level Committee as Chief Minister as Chairperson, State Steering Committee headed by the Chief Secretary and Working Group Committee headed by the concerned Secretaries.

MPCB observes: Manipur Pollution Control Board (MPCB) in association with Eco Club and Paryavaran Mitra kick started its week-long observance of World Environment Day at State Guest House today.

MPCB Chairperson E Dwijamani was the chief guest of the opening function.

HOD of Chemistry Department of Kh Manipur College, W Manihar Singh, MPCB Member Secretary K Jagadishwor and former Principal of DM College of Science, G Tomba Sharma were also present at the occasion as presidium members.

Prizes for best Eco Club/DIMC were also distributed in the function.

A technical session on environment awareness was also conducted.

Vision Foundation Day and Pioneer Health Club : Vision Foundation and Pioneer Health Club jointly organised the World Environment Day at Sangshabi Tinsid Road under the theme, Forest : Nature at your service with Industry Minister Y Erabot as chief guest and LOk Sabha MP Dr Meinya as president.

MBC observes: Manipur Baptist Convention Centre Church Imphal also observed World Environment Day by organising a children's painting competition today.

Around 300 children took part in the competition which was conducted in two categories.

Prizes for the said contest will be distributed on next Sunday.

Army/AR observes: 18 Sikh under 9 Sector Assam Rifles also celebrated World Environment Day with the plantation of 60 saplings at Damini Memorial Academy, Changangei.

Students, teachers and local people joined the Army personnel in celebrating the event.

Stationery items, insect repellent creams were also distributed, said a press release.

23 Assam Rifles also observed the day by organising a cleanliness drive and planting of 200 saplings at Sagolmang area.

23 AR troops and villagers renovated the toilet facility at the area, said an AR press release.

Modern College observes: Modern College Students' Union under the aegis of Environment and Ecology Wing planted saplings at the college campus to mark World Environment Day.

Celebration at Singda: Bridge of Hopes and Environment and Human Development also jointly organised World Environment Day at Singda.

Dr RK Ranjan was the chief guest of the celebration.

Environment activists O Bikramjit, W Rajesh and Jiten spoke as resource persons in the function.

Celebration at Keirao Bitra: Social Worker N Itomba in association with Keirao Bitra Loumee Lup, ILU and YDCC celebrated World Environment Day with plantation of 1000 saplings at Keirao Awanching.