Maximise efforts to conserve wetlands: Guv Ganesan
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal/Bishnupur, February 02 2023: Governor La Ganesan has said that all out efforts should be put in place to save and conserve wetlands in the state.

Speaking as chief guest of.

the World Wetlands Day observance held at Sendra in Moirang sub-division of Bishnupur district on Thursday, the Governor highlighted the significance of observing Wetlands day as it is solely aimed at causing awareness on the importance of wetlands in our life.

He said wetlands play an important role in balancing our environment and many fiving beings including human are able to survive because of it.

Many resources which are important for living beings are provided by wetlands around us, iterated the Governor.

Ganesan, however, expressed concern that many degrading and disrupting activities are affecting the natural ecology of wetlands causing ecological imbalance and climate change.

Cautioning against such recklessness, he said, all disrupting activities like encroachment should be checked and nobody should be allowed to do so.

On conservation of Loktak lake, he conceded that the government alone cannot conserve the lake and called upon all stakeholders including NGOs and people to cooperate with each other and help the government through various initiatives being taken up to restore and conserve the lake.

All are responsible for the conservation of wetlands particularly the Loktak lake, he reminded.

Forest Environment and Climate Change minister Th Biswajit Singh, who attended the function as president, said the state government has been trying to save and conserve wetlands.

He said, 168 wetlands have been identified in the state and steps to conserve the same taken up.

The minister further confided that proposals have been sent to the Environment Ministry and for the first phase, four wetlands will be developed.

Citing the importance of wetlands, he appealed to the people for conservation of wetlands in the state.

MSPDCL chairman T Robindro Singh, MLA Thongam Shanti Singh and LDA chairman M Asnikumar Singh also spoke on the importance of conservation of wetlands particularly the Loktak lake and its associate wetlands and urged people to cooperate in the process of complete rejuvenation of the lake and other wetlands in the state.

MLA S Premchandra Singh also attended the programme.

During the observance programme, Pumlen Lake Development Organisation Tokpa Ching was awarded Wetland Mitra Award.

A Coffee Table Book Brochure on Wetland conservation was also released.

Recognition awards, cash prizes and certificates for Wetland Conservation Action were also distributed as part of the event.

Karang Island Development Organisation also organised a spot painting competition for students from class 5 to 8 at Ibudhou Khuman Pokpa Laibung, Karang on the theme to revive Karang Island into its past glorious ecology.

A total of 30 students from three different schools of Karang took part in the competition.

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