Najma Heptulla
Manipur Governor Dr Najma Heptulla. File image - Northeast Now

Manipur governor Dr Najma Heptulla on Monday appealed to ban commercial hunting in the north eastern border state in an effort to conserve the wildlife and forest. She was addressing the concluding day function of 63rd Wildlife Week celebration at Imphal.

The governor said even small living being in the wild is important for balancing the ecosystem. People have to translate government’s policies into action as the government alone cannot do everything, she said.

Manipur governor also expressed concern about the decline of fish and migratory bird species at the wetlands of the state unlike the past in view of the reduction of their feeding grounds and other human activities.

Manipur’s biodiversity includes 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.

Echoing a similar sentiment, Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh appealed to the people to send out the good images of Manipur to the world. Opening of the shops in Imphal and other towns in the night shows that the law and order situation has improved a lot, he said. The government had even introduced Imphal evenings on every Saturday and Sunday for a better cause.

Stating that the state needs flexibility and adjustment, he said there will not be any room for negotiation if there’s lack of adjustment. He also informed that the government has been appealing to the student bodies to look for other means instead of calling bandh or blockade in the region.

Three students bodies based in the hill districts have announced economic blockade on the national highways in their jurisdiction from 5 am of October 9 till 5 am of October 14.

The function was also attended by  forest and environment minister Th Shyamkumar, consumers affairs food and public distribution minister K Shyam Singh, fisheries and tribal development minister N Kayisii, additional chief secretary (forest and environment) Suhel Akhtar and Head of forest department K Angami.

Sobhapati Samom is Northeast Now Correspondent in Imphal. He can be reached at: [email protected]