Imphal, March, 22 (UNI) Water is life and we cannot survive without water, Manipur Chief Minister
N Biren Singh said on Wednesday addressing World Water Day here.
He urged the people to understand the importance of water.
Chief Minister said that forest and trees are integral to the water cycle and that the government has been laying emphasis on Green Mission Manipur since the beginning of the previous term.
The call to preserve and conserve reserved forest and protected forests area is for the people, especially those living nearest to the forest cover, he said adding that these people should protect
the forest covers.
The Chief Minister expressed his desire for engineers and officials of Public health, Water
Resources and Forest to organise rallies to the hills where there are massive deforestation
and to create awareness among the villagers on the importance of trees and to create a
sense of ownership for the forest covers amongst them.
Further urging the people to use water wisely, the Chief Minister said that the government is also putting efforts to provide sufficient water to the people.
He said during the recent lean period, the government brought water from Thoubal Project and created a reservoir at the Chingkhei Ching water treatment plant and created filling points at
Khuman Lampak.
Civilisation is not just infrastructural development, but also people having civic sense, he said
urging the people against polluting river water by washing clothes in the river or leaking septic
tanks into the river.
Biren Singh also elaborated on the impact of illegal drugs in the society. He highlighted the need
to identify addicts and for local clubs and organisations to offer proper counselling and care
without any victimisation or humiliation to the families with addicts to encourage their recovery.
Speaking on Har Ghar Jal Mission, the Chief Minister said almost 75 percent of laying of pipes has been completed but it is no use if there is no water source.
He further encouraged the people to plant more trees and develop small tree covers in the valley areas also.
Highlighting filling of ponds and other water bodies to construct community halls, the Chief Minister urged the people against filing up of water bodies.
He said the government is seeking to rejuvenate Lamphelpat and other water bodies and to
preserve and protect Loktak Lake.
UNI NS BM