Everyone talks of deteriorating climatic condition in Manipur and the recent heavy fog that befuddled environmentalists marked the entry of Manipur into unclean atmosphere. After a few months’ dry spell Manipur will see the onset of rainy season. But we will soon forget what we had experienced a little while ago and waste time pondering over other matters. If the atmosphere is not clean it can be purified by planting more trees. How many of us are prepared to take up tree plantation as a mission. Observation of Vanmahotsav is necessary. There should be initiative that should come from the environmentalists to make Manipur a greenery place. Unless tree plantation is taken up as a mission the war against climatic change will not succeed. Tree plantation can be launched on war footing. Government office complexes scattered here and there at different parts of the state look like barren land without any trees. The heads of these Government offices can be asked to plant more trees at the precinct of their offices. Land must be earmarked for growing more trees. Addition of quarters, office buildings in what was once considered to be forest land have acted as agents in making what we have witnessed during the winter season. Manipur receives rainfall round the year. There cannot be barren land in Manipur. But the hills are denuded as jhumias resort to burning of forest wealth. Forest wealth is burnt for collecting a few sacks of charcoal. Jhumias do not try to gauge the extent of damage done by such fire. If these jhumias are properly rehabilitated forest wealth may be saved. They need to be told that jhum cultivation is not remunerative. What is required is making them realise the harms brought on the earth by the wanton destruction of forest wealth. Non Government organisations can do a pivotal role in making the jhumias realise the harms they are doing to the living things. Funds have to be made available to these NGOs for making large scale awareness programme against the destruction of forest wealth and also for making common masses realise the need for planting trees in their Leikais and khas land near their houses. The Government both at the centre and the state will not shirk the responsibility of helping such organisation, which takes up tree plantation as a mission. Likewise all these NGOs be it cultural or others, which receive annual grant from the Government can be encouraged to plant a few hundreds of trees at any place of their choice. The entire stretch of national or state highways passing through Manipur is without any shade. If trees are planted all along these roads Manipur will become a heaven on earth. Our representatives also can be asked to spend at least five percent of local area development fund in tree plantation programme. If Manipur saw a few days’ smog this year more will be seen in the years to come. Hence the need for giving thrust to making Manipur a greenery place.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/deteriorating-climatic-condition/
