Jal Shakti Abhiyan

Imphal, Aug 23 (DIPR): Water Resources and YAS Minister Letpao Haokip launched Jal Shakti Abhiyaan at NIT Manipur today.
During the event, he appealed to the people of the State to pledge to plant at least 20 saplings every month without fail, as responsible citizens in a bid to combat climate change and to conserve water resources.
It can be mentioned that the Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a Water Conservation Campaign under the initiative of Prime Minister, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Government of India. It is a time-bound campaign with a mission-mode approach intended to improve conditions in around 1500 blocks that are drought affected, water stressed or over-exploited falling in 254 districts with water conservation related central programmes.
JSA is planned to be carried out in two phases. Phase I will be carried out between July 1 and September 15 for all States. Chandel district of Manipur has been included among these for the Phase I.
Held at the seminar hall of NIT Campus, Langol, today’s initiation programme was also attended by Prof (Dr) Goutam Sutradhar, Director of NIT Manipur as the president and Songput N Albert, Chief Engineer of Water Resources Department as the distinguished guest.
Giving his chief guest speech, Letpao Haokip said that incessant felling of trees in almost all the catchment areas of the State has resulted in rain water directly going to the rivers causing high siltation.
Even though the State Government has taken up steps to clear siltation of river beds since last year, the result is not all satisfactory, he added.
 He appealed the public, especially the river-bank dwellers, to be more responsible environment-wise and not to resort to felling of trees.
The Minister further said that felling of trees is higher in hill areas as what concerns the hill people is not water scarcity or environmental problems but earning their daily ‘bread and butter’ and then appealed the public to abide by the Government land Acts and forest laws so that a proper environment can be sustained.
Taking opportunity of the event, Letpao initiated a pledge to all the faculty and staff of the institute to plant 20 saplings by each one of them every month and further appealed to spread this pledge to the rest of the people.
NIT Director, Prof Goutam Sutradhar stated that India accounts for 17 percent of the world population, but when it comes to freshwater resources, the country accounts for only 4 percent of the world’s freshwater resources.
He added that under this campaign, activities will be targeted under five (5) areas viz water conservation and rainwater harvesting; renovation of traditional water bodies/tanks; reuse, bore well recharge structures; watershed development; and intensive afforestation.
WRD Chief Engineer Songput N Albert also spoke about the causes of climate change and why conservation of water resources should be the top priority.
He appealed the public not to pass responsibilities but to start the initiative of water conservation and afforestation from oneself.