Voices of concern raised on Wetlands Day
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 02 2021: As observed globally, World Wetlands Day, 2021 was observed today at Yaralpat in Imphal East under the theme "Wetlands and Water: Inclusion in climate change action".

Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Manipur organized the function in collaboration with Manipur Initiative for Conservation of Nature (MICON) and Yaralpat Integrated Farming Cooperative Society Limited.

Delivering the keynote address, convenor of Technical Committee for State Wetlands Authority, Manipur, T Brajakumar stated that the exact number of wetlands present in the State cannot be ascertained as of now.

Though a report from the Ministry concerned enlisted 167 wetlands from the State, only 119 wetlands could be detected on remote sensing, he added.

Brajakumar, who is also the Deputy Director of Directorate of Environment & Climate Change, went on to mention that 23 wetlands had already been identified in the State for conservation.

Later, panel discussions were held on various aspects related to conserving wetlands.

Technical Committee for State Wetlands Authority, Manipur chairperson Dr Kh Shamungou Singh and expert member Professor E Bijoy Singh moderated the panel discussion.

It may be mentioned that World Wetlands Day which marks the signing of the Convention of Wetlands at Ramsar in Iran on February 2, 1971 has been observed across the globe since 1997 .

CAU: Central Agriculture University (CAU) Imphal also observed the day at its Lamphelpat office, under the theme "Wetlands and Water," today.

CAU Imphal Vice Chancellor, Dr Anupam Mishra, via video conferencing, stated that wetlands are a productive ecosystem in the State, however the technology utilised seems to be going backward.

Former member of State Planning Board, Chattisgarh, Dr Dinesh Kumar Marothia spoke on "Policy initiatives for management of wetlands while former Vice Chancellor of KUFOS, Kerala, Dr Madhusudan Kurup deliberated on increasing productivity of wetlands through aquaculture".

Scientist Emeritus, IIHR, Dr AN Ganesha Murthy; Department of Agronomy, CAU Imphal, Dr L Nabachandra and Professor and Head, Department of Horticulture, CAU Imphal, Dr AK Bijaya Devi also spoke at the event on different topics.

Director of Extension Education CAU Imphal, Prof Ra-tan Kumar and Director Instructions, CAU Imphal, Dr S Bashanta Singh were also present.

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