Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 04, 2009:
Taking into account of depleting water volume, PHE Department has started taking up necessary steps to conserve the catchment areas of water supply projects like Dolaithabi, Khuga and Thoubal.
Disclosing this while taking to a group of media-persons today, PHE Minister TN Haokip pointed out that human activities like felling down of trees and practice of Jhumming cultivation in the catchment areas have led to depletion of the water volume of important water supply projects.
So necessary steps have been taken up to conserve the catchment areas along with identification of over 100 villages and holding consultation with the villagers, the Minister said.
A memorandum of understanding will be also signed between the Government and the villages in this regard, disclosed.
Informing that the villagers would be encouraged to give up Jhumming practices and indiscriminate feeling of trees and turn their attention to the conservation of the catchment areas, the Minister said these conservation efforts would be made the economic activities of the villagers.
As part of the conservation efforts to be taken up joinly by the PHE, IFC and Forest Dept, the catchment areas would be converted into protected forest area and the required forest guards would be appointed, the Minister explained, adding that a proposal is being prepared for submission to the State Cabinet for approval in this connection.