IMPHAL: To ensure sustainable development of the people and maintaining ecological balance, chief minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday promised to protect the agricultural lands and wetlands of the state.Addressing an interaction programme of local and district-level monitoring committees set up under the Manipur State Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2014 here, Biren expressed serious concern over the shrinking of paddy lands and wetlands at an alarming rate. He asked concerned officials to review the performance of local, district and state-level committees constituted under the Act and induct competent officials and social-minded locals into the committee.The CM added that his government government would do whatever possible to effectively implement the Act. The CM further said that he is in constant touch with the agriculture minister to find ways and means to introduce the widespread practice of double-cropping in the state. Deliberations are also being made to construct small dams in the riverbeds of the Imphal, Kongba and Thoubal rivers to harvest water for irrigation and water supply purposes.Saying that the present state of Lamphelpat here is extremely disappointing, the CM asked the deputy commissioner (Imphal West) to take up immediate steps to curb onslaught on paddy lands and wetlands there. The chief minister also asked the district administration to evict unauthorised structures and take immediate steps to stop unnecessary acquisition and encroachment on agricultural land at Lamphelpat.The protection of Loktak lake is another task which the present government takes seriously, the CM said, and asked the deputy commissioner (Bishnupur) to constitute a committee in this connection at the earliest.

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