| Clean environment
Only a few political parties lay stress in their respective election manifestos on the issue of maintaining the ecology and a clean environment. While all the political parties promise development of all kinds like better health care facilities, more productivity in agricultural sector, industrial revolution, development of the hills and supply of safe drinking water to all, only a few talk about the need to check pollution.
Even if parties like Democratic Peoples Party, Communist Party of India and Janata Dal (S) promise to formulate a comprehensive plan to check pollution, they put the issue almost at the bottom of the priority list. It is unbelievable that major parties like Indian National Congress and Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) which are expected to do well have not mentioned about protection of the fast deteriorating environment in the State.
The NCP says it would check denudation of forest as a measure to control flood. Indian National Congress said lakes would be preserved, protected and developed, but the issue of maintaining a clean environment has not been listed. The BJP also does not mention about the issue. It, however, says that the present drainage and sewage schemes in Imphal and other towns will be recast and a project would be taken up to clean its water. The Manipur Peoples Party takes the pledge to take up a master plan for Imphal city.
A look into the manifestos will suggest that majority of the parties are yet to realize the seriousness of the threat posed by environment pollution in Manipur Imphal city. A look into the manifestos will suggest that majority of the parties are yet to realize the seriousness of the threat posed by environment pollution in Manipur. This is unfortunate, to say the least.
No Government since Manipur attained statehood has paid attention to the issue of environment. The result is everywhere. Look at the present condition of Imphal city. The garbage and sewage disposal system is deplorable. The Nambul River has now been turned into a refuse-dumping place. As a matter of fact Imphal city has now been known as dirtiest city in the North East. That is not all, unchecked felling of trees has dwindled the forest cover drastically over the years. A large percentage of the hills have now become barren. As a result flood has become a yearly phenomenon, destroying crops and livestocks extensively. Every low-lying area in the valley is prone to flood every year.
On the top of this the polythene and plastic bags have posed a serious threat. On the sunny side almost all the parties have felt the need to reconstruct Imphal, the capital city. At the moment it is not only the dirtiest but also the ugliest. Buildings are coming up in an unplanned manner. It should be remembered that without taking into consideration the issue of clean environment the dream of a prosperous modern State would never be realized. While we think of industrial advancement and progress we should also keep in mind the need to control air, water and sound pollution.
(Courtesy: The Sangai Express) |
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