Mother Nature is still unhappy
- Imphal Times Editorial :: February 09, 2021 -

Crimes against humanity deserve the worst form of punishment. Different nations have different legal system to protect the interests of their country.

The enforcement of certain laws – like capital punishment; Special powers act to armed forces may have strong and supportive argument as it is about the security of their respective nations.

Gross violation of human rights at certain parts of the country and other parts of the world may receive severe criticisms from many who are concerned for Human values.

Arguments may continue for certain human causes permitting each sides to stand tight with their act. But what about some issues like global warming, water scarcity and deforestation?

There is no wrong in saying that environment has no boundary. A massive destruction of forest or extraction of crude oil or mismanagement of natural water is among the issues which no nations could give reasonable arguments as it affect regions beyond politically drawn boundaries. After all, these issues are about human beings across the globe.

Reports about the scarcity of usable water have been top news at almost all newspaper in Manipur. As for the state of Manipur there is adequate rainfall every year but faced acute shortage of water almost every year in the last couple of decades.

Interestingly, during rainy season the state also witnessed flood almost every time. In short the state suffers the ugly face of flood during rainy season while they had to bear drought in the remaining days. In view of the arising situation that we are facing right now, there is an urgent matter that needs to be pondered on what went wrong?

Is it the people or is it the government who is responsible for the present crisis?

Deforestation that has been taking place illegally at different parts of the state has been often blamed – both by government and the many social activists which is universally accepted by all.

One thing we at Imphal Times suggest is that we cannot completely blame the people who are responsible for cutting the trees for their livelihood. It is the government which is responsible and why shouldn’t it be?

It was all about their survival and mind it some people do not have any alternative for survival.

On paper government had passed many schemes to substitute the livelihood but it is an open secret that none of this schemes meant for the poor people had never been benefitted by the targeted beneficiaries as the money meant for them had been pocketed by government authorities who were assigned for implementation of the projects.

Another matter, which we at Imphal Times is concerned is the poor understanding of the government department about the need for storage of natural water underneath the earth. There seems to be complete lack of knowledge by the government authority about the need to let the earth absorb any source of water.

Clear example is the drain constructed under huge funding from the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM). The cubicle shaped drainage construction has no mechanism to let the drain water absorb underneath the earth.

This is not only the case with any government infrastructural development work there is no sign of the government authority showing concern about the importance of harvesting the rain water. Harvesting rain water does not mean that it should be stored in a tank or some man-made water storage tank. It is about harvesting inside the earth core which can be reused using other means.

For a state endowed with resources, such abject failure to utilize and benefit from the gifts of nature only undermines the apathy and complacency of the state government.