Governor calls for clean environment
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 20 2017:
After her initiatives for keeping Loktak lake clean, Governor Dr Najma Heptulla today talked about the need to maintain a clean and healthy environment .
Addressing a press meet today at Raj Bhawan, Governor Dr Najma Heptulla expressed strong concern over the increasing piling garbages .
Littering civic wastes freely will gradually contribute to environmental disturbance thereby leading to increase in temperature, she said .
She said that she had heard several Prime Ministers addressing the Nation on development and other issues on the occasion of Independence Day since her association with the Parliament in the past 36 years.
But it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi who earnestly spoke for the first time about cleanliness in his address to the Nation on such an occasion .
Possible cleanliness works have been taken up under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan under the leadership of the Prime Minister, she said .
The Governor pointed out that an individual alone is not capable of maintaining cleanliness.
As such, all concerned should show keen interest in keeping the environment clean and join hands in such initiatives .
As of now, keeping Loktak lake clean assumes great significance.
When she first came to the State, Loktak lake was in a pitiable condition.
How long the claim that Loktak is the largest fresh water lake in the entire North East would hold true, she said .
Since Loktak lake is shrinking, it would be difficult to answer the question whether the size of Loktak lake can be kept intact, Dr Najma Heptulla said .
She further said that the Centre and the State Govt are considering the removal of Ithai Barrage, one factor responsible for the natural decaying and pollution of Loktak lake .
During the press meet, the Governor also strongly conveyed the message for protection of Loktak lake and maintaining cleanliness in the surrounding environment .
Towards this end, a painting competition for school children was organised inside the Raj Bhavan, she said while adding that school children will be given an opportunity to tour the Raj Bhavan in order to spread the message of cleanliness .
Replying to a query, Dr Najma Heptulla said works for preparing modalities of Flying Doctors Project in the State have been started.
It is also reported that the NEC has already allocated Rs 25 crore for the project.