Manipur govt. releases more than INR 1 cr. for 3,080 eco-clubs

Our Correspondent
Imphal, Aug. 31 (EMN): Manipur government on Saturday released more than INR one crore under National Green Corps (NGC) programme 2018-19 for eco-clubs attached to schools across Manipur.
Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh handed a cheque of INR 5000 each to 3,080 eco-clubs’ officials and authorities through their respective deputy commissioners during a function at the Durbar hall of Chief Minister’s secretariat in Imphal.

The chief minister said that there is an urgent need in effective implementation of environment related programmes such as NGC programme considering the impacts of climate change.

Highlighting the dedicated steps such as launching of Chief Minister’s Green Manipur Mission to tackle climate change, he expressed hope that naming of 9 year-old Valentina Elangbam as the Green ambassador of Manipur to encourage and motivate public to plant more trees. He informed that over 1400 tree saplings were distributed to those who came to meet him on ‘Meeyamgi Numit’ on August 30. Biren further said that that MSPCB under the chairmanship of Radhakishore has also been working hard in every possible manner to tackle pollution in the state.

To reduce noise and air pollution, he expressed the need to phase out the diesel auto-rickshaws and replaced by e-rickshaws.

On rampant deforestation and large scale poppy plantation in the hills, he urged to stop such activities as it has become the main reason for siltation of water bodies.

He said that 267 villages of Ukhrul district under the guidance of Tangkhul Naga Long, an apex body of Tangkhuls had come forward to arrange 5 to 10 acres of land each in every village for forest conservation under the Green Manipur mission.

Regarding the existing Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC), he said that there are many discrepancies in the existing SECC database.

On the ongoing Economic Census, the chief minister cautioned that the government would not tolerate any irregularity in the ongoing economic census data collection and spare any wrongdoer this time.

NGC programme was introduced for the first time in the state by establishing 200 Eco-Clubs in 2004 with MSPCB as its state nodal agency, said Member Secretary T Mangi.

Currently Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul districts have highest number of 250 each eco-clubs while Pherzawl has with 108 among all the 16 districts of Manipur.

Stating that with the number of eco-clubs are on the rise in the state, Mangi said that school authorities also taking up awareness session for students on use of plastics and its impact besides tree plantation.