Share
Dr. Najma Heptulla handing over the incentive award to one of the groups for their dedicated efforts in conservation of wildlife at Imphal on Monday.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Imphal, Oct 8 (EMN): Commercial hunting should be completely banned to protect wildlife and maintain ecological balance, Manipur Governor Dr. Najma Heptulla said on Monday.
The governor suggested that the state government enforce effective measures to curb commercial killings of wild animals.
Addressing the closing function of the 63rd Wildlife Week celebration at the Manipur State Film Development Society, Palace compound in Imphal, she said Manipur is one out of the 34 biodiversity hotspots across the globe.
India has four biodiversity hotspots and out of these four, Manipur falls under two hotspots i.e. the Himalayan and the Indo-Myanmar biodiversity hotspots, she said.
The governor mentioned that Manipur’s biodiversity includes about 4,000 angiosperms, 1200 medicinal plants, 34 species of edible fungi, about 500 orchids, 55 species of bamboo, 695 birds, 160 fish species, 21 migratory aquatic birds and multitude of butterflies and insects. It is the responsibility of the people and the government to protect it, she asserted.
She said that there is a vast area of wetland in Bishnupur district, where a large number of migratory water birds visits, mostly from China, Mongolia and Siberia during the period from October to February every year. However, d these migratory birds are declining every year which she said the reason could be because of high water level being maintained due to the construction of Ithai Barrage, which has led to lack of food for migratory birds.
Speaking on the rare Sangai, the governor said that the brow-antlered deer was declared extinct in 1951 and then it was re-discovered at Keibul Lamjao in 1953. Due to continued efforts of the state Forest department, the population of Sangai today had reached around 260 now, she added.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that he is happy that people in hill districts have also started realizing the need for wildlife and environment protection.
Saying that some time back, migratory bird Amur Falcon had stopped coming to Manipur’s Tamenglong district, he said due to the dedicated efforts of some organisations and villagers a large number of Amur Falcons had started visiting the district again.
Stating that trees are very important for survival of human being and as such there is need to plant more and more trees he said the government can only formulate policies but effective execution of these policies require people’s support and cooperation.
Regarding the inconvenience currently faced by farmers due to scanty rainfall, he said that a high power state-level committee had been constituted to look into the problem. He informed that the Minor Irrigation department had started taking up steps to irrigate water to dry paddy fields in 51 identified places of different districts.
For this purpose, Public Health Engineering department (PHED) would provide required water pipes to the Minor Irrigation Department, he said while adding that water pump sets would be provided at the places inspected and identified by a team of officials.
Stating that there had been significant rise in the coming of tourists to the state in the past one-two years, he urged the public to restrain from indulging in any activities such as clamping of bandhs and blockages which may send wrong message about Manipur to other states and countries.
Governor Heptulla presented incentive awards of INR 5000 and a citation each to Animal Attendant of Manipur Zoological Garden, Angam Kamodang, Rainforest Club, Tamenglong and Th Shamungou Singh of Bishnupur district for their dedicated efforts in the conservation of wildlife.
She also presented appreciation certificates to commandant of 12 Assam Rifles, Khudengthabi, Animal and Husbandry department, editors of The Sangai Express, Imphal Fress Press, People’s for Animal and Sub-Inspector Y Motilal of Bishnupur Police for their commendable roles in wildlife conservation.
Prizes for the state-level photography, quiz and debate competitions held as part of the Wildlife Week were also distributed by the dignitaries present at the function.