Imphal, July 17 2009: MLA Morung Makunga has urged all the 60 MLAs of Manipur to join together in protecting the forests of the state by cutting across party line.

During the discussion for demand on Cooperative, Forest and Environment, and Science and Technology today in the ongoing Assembly session, MLA Morung Makunga has also urged for the replacement of jhum cultivation in hill areas by rubber and coffee plantations.

Pointing out the change in climate and ecological imbalance happen due to random felling down of tress in the forest areas, Morung Makunga said that protection of forest is more necessary than tree plantation.

He said forest areas of the state have been lost due to felling down of trees and burning of forest areas in the hillocks.

He moved that the forest areas of the state will be lost in its entirety if not the areas are protected.

Moving the cut motion, Dr Ng Bijoy has also raised that how many of the tree saplings planted in the 540 hectares area of land in the hills have grown to full size.

Dr Bijoy also raised on how the water pollution agents like dumping of solid wastes in river water are tackled and controlled.

He said any attempt to control the air pollution has not been seen.

He also drawn the attention of the concerned minister on the step to control waste material like needles and syringes which were distributed by NGOs to drug users and medicinal wastes in hospitals is not seen.

Dr Bijoy has also drawn the attention of the Cooperative minister on the pitiable conditions of cooperative offices in all the districts while also pointing out that the employees were not given training.

Saying that the river waters need proper dredging, Dr Ng Bijoy also moved on the need for protection of water bodies.

He said scientific means of dumping garbage and solid wastes is needed.

MLA RK Anand and MLA Dr Khasim Ruivah have also participated in the discussion.

Clarifying the motions, Environment and Forest Minister, Th Deben informed the house that the idea of rubber and tree plantations in hill areas as replacements for Jhum cultivation will be thrashed out with the CM.

He also said that the government has been putting efforts to control water pollution.

Science and technology Minister T Phungzathang informed the house that the Science Centre of Manipur located at Takyelpat has been upgraded to Three Dimensions Centre.

He said the centre will be equipped with land information remote sensing system line.

Minister T Phungzathang also said that implementation of micro hydro project has begun and several plans are lined up for implementation in future.

While clarifying the motions, Cooperative Minister Y Erabot said that his department has been providing awareness training to staffs of district and zonal cooperative offices.

He said though loan recovery rate is minimal, the department has also given loan to 9492 beneficiaries through the Cooperative Bank.

Budgets on three demands relating to Cooperative (Rs 12,76,18,000), Environment and Forest (Rs 50,79,95,000), and Science and Technology and Information Technology (Rs 12,18,58,000) were passed today.

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