Imphal: Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Saturday distributed Rs 1.54 crore to 3,080 District Eco-Club Schools of the State through the Deputy Commissioners and Member Secretaries of District Implementation and Monitoring Committees (DIMC) at a function held at Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
Singh said that there is a pressing need for effective implementation of environment-related programmes like National Green Corps (NGC) programme considering impacts of climate change being witnessed across the globe.
“The State Government has taken up some dedicated steps like launching of CM’s Green Manipur Mission to tackle climate change and global warming,” he said.
The chief minister expressed hope that the naming of nine-year-old Valentina Elangbam, an ardent tree-lover, as the Green Ambassador of Manipur by the state government would certainly encourage and motivate people to plant more trees.
He further informed that over 1,400 tree saplings were distributed to those who came to meet him.
Singh further said Manipur Pollution Control Board, under the Chairmanship of L. Radhakishore, has also been working hard in every possible manner to tackle pollution in the State.
Works related to Nambul Rejuvenation Project are underway, and DPRs for similar projects of other rivers are also being drafted for submission to the Centre, he informed.
Singh also emphasised on the need to do every work with sincerity and dedication. To reduce noise and air pollution, the chief minister suggested the replacements of diesel auto-rickshaws by e-rickshaws.
Stating that rampant deforestation and large scale poppy plantation in the hills creates excessive soil erosion, he urged the people to stop poppy plantation as it has become the main reason for siltation of rivers and lakes.
Singh also expressed satisfaction that 267 villages of Ukhrul district under the guidance of Tangkhul Naga Long came forward to set aside 5 to 10 acres of land in every village for forest conservation under the CM’s Green Manipur Mission.
Regarding the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC), the chief minister said there are many discrepancies in the existing SECC database. Many needy and deserving people were left out while many well-to-do families were found categorised as needy families in the said database, he said.
The NGC programme is being implemented in the State with Manipur Pollution Control Programme as the Nodal Agency. Under the programme, 200 Eco-Clubs were established for the first time in different schools across nine districts of the State in 2004.
Every district has a DIMC to implement the programme with respective DCs as the chairman.
The Member Secretaries of the committees in consultation with the teacher in-charge of the schools having Eco-Clubs organise different programmes to impart awareness on environment protection. (UNI)
