Imphal, June 05 2009: On the occasion of the World Environment Day today, state Chief Minister O Ibobi called upon the people of Manipur to share their contributions by ceasing burning forest and planting five trees while cutting down one.

The Chief Minister also said that the state government was planning to shift the Johnstone Higher Secondary School from the present location in the heart of the Imphal city to elsewere for expansion of the BT park.

Speaking at a function organised to observe World Environment Day by the Environment and Ecological Wing under the theme of the year "Your planet needs you, unite to combat climate change" at Kangla hall, Imphal, the Chief minister maintained that it will be wrong to keep aside the surrounding environment.

If the people continue to neglect the natural environment, there is the fear of extinction of human beings form this planet.

So, every body should participate in saving and protecting the environment, he said.

While expressing that Manipur is a state bounty with natural resource having good soil fertility, Ibobi stressed the need of conserving the same by checking deforestation and stopping forest firing and planting five tree when a tree is cut down.

Talking at length on his dream of making Imphal a green city, he said if each head of around 25 lakh population planted one tree each, Manipur can contribute in the global call for saving environment.

He also assured that government will take up steps to plant trees in the campuses of the schools and colleges as policy matter at the earliest.

If the state security set ups Manipur Rifles having enough manpower planted trees, the dream of green Manipur could be achieved, he said.

The chief minister further said the John Stone Higher Secondary School located in the heart of the Imphal city will be shifted to another appropriate place and the BT Park will be expanded.

But the memorial site of the Johnstone will be kept untouched.

After shifting the Assembly complex with the completion of the Capitol Project at Chingmeirong which currently in progress, Indira Park will be expanded and will plant tree in plenty there.

Another plan for developing a shopping moll at place presently occupied by the Tombisana High School, Hindi Parishad and Imphal Municipal office has also been chalk out, he said while elaborately speaking on his plan for making Imphal city a green city.

The observation function was also presided by state forest and environment, law and revenue minister, Th Debendro.

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