IMPHAL, Oct 8 - Manipur Governor Dr Najma Heptulla on Monday called for a ban commercial hunting in the State in order to conserve the wildlife and forest.
The Governor was addressing the grand finale of the 63rd Wildlife Week celebration organised by Forest department here.
The function was also attended by Chief Minister N Biren Singh, 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.
The Governor expressed concern about the decline of fish and migratory bird species in the wetlands of the State due to reduction of their feeding grounds and human activities.
She highlighted Manipur�s biodiversity including 1,200 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.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh appealed to the people to send out good images of Manipur to the outside world. Opening of shops in Imphal and other towns in the night shows that the law and order situation has improved a lot, he said.
He said that the government has been appealing to the student bodies to resort to other means of protest instead of calling bandhs or blockades.
It may be mentioned that three student bodies based in hill districts have announced an economic blockade on the National Highways from 5 am of October 9 till 5 am of October 14.
