KAKCHING, Dec 30 - The Manipur Government will formulate a State policy on climate change soon. At the same time, the revision process of the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC), Version 2, has been initiated and district-wise consultative workshops have been launched.
This was disclosed by Dr T Brajakumar, State nodal officer, climate change and NGT-related issues of the State Directorate of Environment, while delivering the keynote address at the maiden district-level consultative workshop for revision of SAPCC Version 2 and preparation of a district environment plan here.
The workshop was organised by the Alliance for Development Alternative-Manipur (ADAM) in collaboration with the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change.
It may be mentioned here that the 200-page SAPCC report was prepared by the Directorate of Environment in collaboration with 22 line departments with inputs from 42 local experts from diverse fields. It was released in 2013 in a bid to address the existing as well as future challenges of climate change and take actions to reduce associated risks and vulnerabilities.
�The inputs from the workshop are important as these will be integrated while finalising the SAPCC, Version 2 (2020-2030),� said Dr Brajakumar. He called for sharing of the key inputs under six thematic sectors � ecosystem and biodiversity, water resources, forest resources, livelihood, agriculture, health and climate science, strategic knowledge and information.
Participating in the workshop, a senior official of the State Horticulture Department said that Manipur�s organic mission agency has earmarked 12,500 hectares of land for farming this time around.
The horticultural crops under organic farming include pineapples, oranges, lemons, king chillies, ginger and turmeric, while the two agricultural crops include chakhao (black rice).
A Minor Irrigation Department official informed the gathering that 13 irrigation canals have been proposed for Kakching district. A Health official suggested proper mapping of areas vulnerable to Japanese encephalitis and dengue, in the district.
Kakching Deputy Commissioner Kengoo Zuringla and ADAM president Prof N Rajmuhon Singh were also present at the inaugural function of the workshop, which was attended by district-level officers of different government departments.