WETLANDS SHRINK IN THE FACE OF URBANIZATION

Source : The Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Feb 1: Wetland areas of Manipur where fishing activities can be taken up naturally has shrunken from one lakh hectare in 1993 to 56,491 hectare today, thus recording a loss of over 40,000 hectares in the face of increasing human population, siltation and urbanisation.
This startling revelation has come about even as the State is gearing up for the observance of World Wetland Day tomorrow.
An official source disclosed to The Sangai Express that till 1993 wetland areas of Manipur where fishing activities could be taken up was over one lakh hectares. But it has been reduced to 56,491 hectares only today.
Apart from siltation of the wetlands, increasing human population and its associated development of urbanisation are at the root causes of the shrinkage, the source explained, while pointing out that Public Health Engineering Department has been recently entrusted with the responsibility of developing Waithoupat as a reservoir for supply water to the people of Thoubal district.
Out of the available wetland areas of 53,461 hectares including Loktak lake, just around 19,000 hectares have been brought under fishing activities, the source further disclosed, adding that under the National Fishery Board, State Fishery Department has taken up steps to assist the fishermen in digging new ponds towards promotion of fishing activities.
It is said that the demand of fish in Manipur is 25,600 metric tonne annually. But the fish production of the State is only 18,800 metric tonne. The demand gap is thus being filled up from importing fishes from other States of the country.
On the other hand, the Fishery Department has discussed implementation of an external aided project for increasing the efficiency of fishing activities by providing motor operated fibre boats to 2000 fishermen of the State.
To be funded by the Japanese Government under its Grant Aid Programme, a project report in this regard has already been submitted by the Fisheries Department to the Planning Department.
In case of approving the project, in the last phase, motor-operated fibre boats would be provided to 5000 fishermen, the source informed, adding that the application of these motor-operated fibre boats would not only increase the efficiency of the fishermen but would also help in improving the environment.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh today chaired a meeting attended by officials
of the Department concerned to discuss matters related to protection and development of the existing wetlands in Lamphel.
The meeting also decided to cancel patta land issued against some portion of the wetland fraudently as well as those settling around the site where National Institute of Technology (NIT) is proposed to be constructed.

MINISTER SOUNDS WATER SCARCITY ALARM

Source: The Sangai Express

IMPHAL, Feb 1: Manipur may face severe scarcity of drinking water in 20-30 years if remedial measures are not implemented in time, said IFC Minister N Biren while speaking in a function organised by Press Information Bureau (PIB) at Heingang Panthoibi Lampak today.
“The hills of Manipur are becoming barren with constant deforestation and the rivers are parched of water”, the Minister said, “If there is no water in the springs and rivers, how can we provide potable water to the people.”
N Biren was speaking as chief guest in the inaugural function of the four-day Public Information Campaign on Central Government’s flagship program- mes, like NREGS, Bharat Nirman, ICDS, Mid-day meal, SSA and RTI etc.
The Minister also called on the general public to co-operate the State Govern- ment in protecting State forest areas and conservation of water.
“If we fail to take up necessary measures from now in this regard, we may face a severe scarcity of water in 20-30 years”, the Minister cautioned.
Regarding power woes, N Biren blamed past Governments for not taking up steps with a vision. He said that past Governments did not fix the High Tension (HT) lines coming from Silchar side by considering the future power needs of the State. The power line is incapable of bearing the current power need of the State.
However, the State Government has started fixing of new lines from Silchar, he said, once the work is completed in March 2011, the State may not face power woes.
Regarding Central Government’s flagship progra- mmes, N Biren said that even 50 percent of the actual benefits are not reached to the people due to ‘percentage cuts’ and threats from various organisations.
Urging all concerned to think for the welfare of the masses, the Minister said, “We all must try not to go waste of these Central Government schemes, which were created with a vision of balanced development”.
N Biren also urged upon the general public to be aware of their rights and responsibility in this regard.
Social Worker N Bor-mani and Heingang Gram Panchayat Pradhan L Manihar were the president and guest of honour of the function organised in association with DAVP, AIR Imphal, DDK Imphal, Song and Drama Division Imphal and DTE of Field Publicity.
Earlier, Minister N Biren also opened an exhibition that showcased photographs and handicraft products during the function.
People-expert interac- tion sessions, free medical and eye care camps and immunization will also be held during the four-day event.