Let's stop over-exploiting nature: Awangbow
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 04 2020: On the eve of the World Environment Day (June 5), newly inducted Forest, Environment & Climate Change Minister Awangbow Newmai has called upon all the people of the State to stop over-exploiting nature.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, Awangbow Newmai said Manipur used to produce abundant quantities of tree beans and oranges some decades back but these days both tree bean plants and orange plants have been withering and dying.

The ecologial imbalance seen today is mainly a result of over-exploitation of nature including rampant hunting of wild animals, said Awangbow Newmai.

Nature was kind enough to provide all the needs of mankind but nature is now unable to meet the ever growing demands of human being.

The ecological imbalance seen all around the planet has been giving birth to several new diseases, he rued.

With several hill slopes becoming barren and tree-less, major rivers of the State as Imphal, Barak and Irang are almost dry during lean season and at the same time they become sources of devastating floods during rainy season, he remarked.

As the Minister for Forest, Environment & Climate Change, Awangbow Newmai expressed keen desire to create extensive awareness among the masses about the growing need for conserving nature.

Environmentalist Dr Khangenbam Shamungou attributed the COVID-19 pandemic and the invasion by locust to the global climate change.

He asserted that earth should not be home to mankind alone but all living and non-living things must co-exist on the planet.

Professor Dr N Rajmuhon of Chemistry Department, MU said that Manipur is located within the India-Myanmar hotspot zone and it is very rich in biodiversity.

"We will lose this rich biodiversity sooner than later if we are not careful enough", Prof Rajmuhon said.

Many experts are of the opinion that different medicinal plants which can be processed to manufacture live saving drugs are found in Manipur, he added.

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