Changed climate
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: June 16 2015 -
It does not need the prophetic announcements of the weatherman that Manipur has undergone climatic changes and it is fast catching up other dry states and in a few centuries it may become a desert.
Gone are the days when people experienced torrential rains lasting several days and nights non-stop.
What we have had in the form of monsoon this time is not enough to soak the parched paddy fields and there is no increase in the water level of the ankle deep clogged rivers.
Partly due to the almost dried up rivers and partly round the clock siphoning off the water through the three turbines the Loktak lake is also dying.
Fish, other living beings including edible vegetations are threatened by the dwindling water level and increasing doses of poisons used by the fishermen to sedate or kill the fish.
There is no irrigation system worth mentioning in Manipur. Farmers have been depending on the seasonal rains and that is why planting periods are restricted in Manipur.
The man made canals for irrigation have running waters only when there are rains and these wadi canals and rivers are of no use when there is no rain.
Assuming that there will be desert like scanty rains in Manipur the government should make long term plans keeping 50 years ahead in mind.
If need be foreign experts ought to be engaged. It may be news that there is cultivation in desert like areas in Israel and other countries.
With little attention the government could be helpful to the farmers in augmenting the products.
Our farmers have been adopting the traditional method of paddy cultivation which means that if rains fail there will be no harvesting.
When there is no seasonal rain our fields remain barren. If modern scientific methods are prevalent in Manipur there could be glut production.
One of the reasons why Manipur has to depend on the FCI rice which has little nutritional values is scanty rain, lack of modern technology, fertilizers.
A serious introspection is called for before it is too late. It is the responsibility of the government to make long term plans with a vision.
It will be anti-people to sleep over the looming danger.
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