CM calls for saving water bodies
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR
Imphal, March 23 2023:
While appealing to the people for judicious use of water and reminding all concerned that humans cannot survive without water, chief minister N Biren has strongly called for stopping construction of community halls and other structures by filling ponds/water bodies.
The chief minister made the appeal during the inaugural session of a state level awareness campaign held on the theme 'Accelerating Change' organised in connection with World Water Day 2023 observance organised by the Public Health Engineering Department at Khuman Lampak, here, on Thursday.
The chief minister also flagged off a Bike Rally carrying the message of water conservation as part of the campaign.
Speaking as the chief guest of the inaugural session of the awareness campaign, N Biren informed that realising the importance of ensuring availability of water, the government has been working towards water conservation and planning to rejuvenate Lamphelpat and other water bodies apart from protecting the Loktak Lake.
Urging people to understand the importance of water, the chief minister stressed that forest and trees are integral to the water cycle and government has been laying emphasis on Green Mission Manipur since the beginning of the previous term.
The call to preserve and conserve reserved and protected forest area is for the people especially those living nearest to the forest, he added.
The chief minister also expressed his desire for engineers and officials of PHE, water resources and forest departments to organise rallies in the hills where there are widespread deforestation to create awareness among the villagers on the importance of trees and create, a sense of ownership in protecting the forest covers.
Further urging the people to use water judiciously, the chief minister said that the government is making efforts to provide sufficient water to the people.
During the recent lean period, the government channelled water from Thoubal project to the reservoir at Chingkhei Ching water treatment plant and started supplying treated at Khuman Lampak.
While stating that 75 per cent of laying of pipes under Har Ghar Jal Mission has been completed, he exhorted the people to plant more trees and develop small tree covers in the valley areas as construction of water reservoirs and laying of pipes will be of no use if the water sources dry up.
The inaugural session was also attended by PHE minister L Susindro Meitei, textiles minister Nemcha Kipgen, water resources minister Awangbow Newmai, transport minister Kashim Vashum, MLAs Th Arunkumar Singh, Leishiyo Keishing, Sapam Kunjakeswor Singh and Khongbantabam Ibomcha.