Imphal: The Irabot Foundation Manipur (IFM) has submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, demanding the effective implementation of the Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2024, to protect the state’s wetlands and paddy lands.
IFM president Kh Gopen Luwang criticized the ineffective implementation of the MCPLWA, stating that it lacks the seriousness required for effective conservation of the state’s wetlands and paddy lands.
Highlighting the rampant encroachment of wetlands and paddy lands by building sheds and residential structures, particularly in Imphal East and West, Luwang emphasized that unauthorized construction in these protected areas not only disrupts the ecological balance but also significantly reduces agricultural yields.
Luwang expressed concern over the shrinking of several wetlands in Manipur’s valley districts, including Loktak Lake.
He emphasized that the changes in the natural flow of rivers and the increasing frequency of floods and droughts are directly linked to the gradual decline of wetlands and paddy lands.
Stressing the urgent need for strict implementation of the MCPLWA to prevent an ecological crisis, he called for the government to establish a dedicated monitoring committee.
“This committee would oversee the Act’s implementation and impose penalties on those encroaching upon wetlands and paddy lands,” the IFM president said.
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He said despite the MCPLWA, many individuals are constructing unauthorized structures, such as turf football grounds, on protected lands, which is a clear violation of the law.
The Irabot Foundation Manipur also expressed its willingness to assist the state government in protecting wetlands and paddy lands.
