The Manipur Government has made a holistic approach to conserve the wetlands in the state especially in this age of rapid urbanisation. As per data shared by the Environment and Climate Change Department, only 23 wetlands has been identified so far for conservation.
But if one takes into account data shared by the Space Application Centre (SAC), than the total number of wetlands in Manipur is 139.
However, according to T. Brajakumar, Director- Environment and Climate Change Department of Manipur Government, there are over 100 wetlands in the state as identified by the Space Application Centre (SAC).
When asked if wetlands other than the 23 identified so far, cease to exist, Brajakumar said that the government is carrying out a massive exercise to ascertain the truth. However, nothing can be told unless a report comes out, the Manipur Government official said.
Briefing newspersons on the sidelines of the World Wetlands Day, T. Brajakumar said, “In fact as reported by the Space Application Centre Manipur has reported 139 wetlands, even though that depends on sizes, that 139 wetlands are more than 2.25 hectares, so out of those we could find and verify only 23 wetlands. But as of now we cannot say that the other wetlands are lost. So we are going for investigation, until the final list comes out we cannot say that.”
Regarding the identification of the 23 wetlands and 7 out of them taken for conservation, T Brajakumar said, “Now as reported by the State Wetland Authority which is the nodal agency led by the Director of Environment and Climate Change, it has identified 23 wetlands and documented for sustainable management. Now in the first phase, out of the 23 wetlands which has been identified by the experts appraisal committee for the management, 7 wetlands have been chosen again. It has been recommended by the state wetland authority for being notified as a state wetland. Out of the 7 recommended wetladnds 4 wetlands have already been taken up for conservation under the National Plan for Aquatic Ecosystem Management under the Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change. The 4 wetlands are- a. Waithou Phumnom in Thoubal, b. Yaralpat in Imphal East, c. Jaimeng in Kangpokpi and d. Uttrapat in Bishnupur.
The process of conservation is under progress now.
The remaining three wetlands- Ecop in Bishnupur, Pumlen in Bishnupur have been taken by the local development authority for conservation and for Kasopung we are preparing a DPR (Detailed Project Report) and will submit it to the ministry for conservation. For the rest of the wetlands we are going for some technical and ground verification with the help of remote sensing experts and the subject experts.”
The review meeting was attended by Chief Ministers of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura.
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