Imphal: Governor La.Ganesan has said that all out efforts should be put in place to save and conserve wetlands in the State. He was speaking as Chief Guest at the World Wetlands Day observance held at Sendra in Moirang Sub-Division of Bishnupur district on Thursday.
The Governor said that the significance of observing the day is to make aware all about the importance of wetlands in our life. He said that wetlands play an important role in balancing our environment thereby many living beings including the human beings are able to survive.
Many resources which are important for living beings are provided by the wetlands around us, he added.
La. Ganesan continued that however, many degrading and disrupting activities have been continuing which affects the normal ecology of the wetlands causing ecological imbalance and climate change.
Cautioning against such activities, he said that all disrupting activities like encroachment should be checked and nobody should be allowed to do so.
On the conservation of Loktak Lake, thr Governor said that the government alone cannot conserve the lake. He said that all stakeholders including NGOs and people should 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 added.
Addressing the gathering, Forest Environment and Climate Change Minister Th. Biswajit Singh said that the State Government has been trying to save and conserve wetlands. He said that 168 wetlands have been identified in the State and steps to conserve the same have been taken up.
He further said 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 to resolve for the conservation of wetlands in the State.
T. Robindro Singh, Chairman, MSPDCL, Thongam Shanti Singh, MLA and M. Asnikumar Singh, Chairman, Loktak Development Authority, also spoke on the importance of conservation of wetlands particularly the Loktak Lake and its associate wetlands and urged the people to cooperate in the process of complete rejuvenation of the lake and other wetlands in the State. S. Premchandra Singh, MLA also attended the observance function.
