Manipur media goes on 'Save Nambul' campaign
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 02 2020: In a bid to save and restore the historic Nambul river to its original glory, the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union and Directorate of Environment and Climate Change organised a one day media campaign on the river today.

Forest and Environment Minister Awangbou Newmai flagged off a team of journalists and Government officials on boats from the Khwai bridge.

The team covered a distance of 26.49 kilometres from the Khwai bridge to Yangoi Karong area.

Before flagging off the team, Deputy Director Dr Tourangbam Environment and Climate Change Dr Tourangbam Brajakumar recalled that 50 to 60 years ago, the Nambul river was used as an important river waterway.

The river which once had a glorious past providing livelihood to many has now been degraded to its present status due to decades of human exploitation and encroachment, he said.

The Nambul river is formed by three tributaries-Abulok, Singda and Luwangli at Iroishemba.

The health of the river is worst between Iroishemba and Heirangoi, a 9 kilometre stretch.

As part of its efforts to save and preserve the river, the Directorate is associating with AMWJU to carry out the campaign which aims at educating the people especially those residing on the banks of the river to take pro-active actions and cooperate in saving the river, he said.

Chief guest of the event, Forest and Environment Minister Awangbou Newmai said that the decades of exploitation and mismanagement of waste have polluted the river water and damaged its ecosystem.

Acknowledging the importance of the river system, the Chief Minister had launched cleaning/dredging works of the river bed in March this year, he said.

He expressed confidence that the preservation works being carried out under the National River Conservation Plan of the Central Government will be successful if all stakeholders including the people cooperate at the highest level in the efforts of the Departments concerned.

He lauded the media personnel for taking up the cause and carrying out the campaign to raise awareness among the people.

He acknowledged that among all authorities concerned media have a greater role to play in spreading the right awareness and encouraging active participation of the people at all levels.

Environment and Climate Change Director Dr Y Nabachandra, AMWJU president Bijoy Kakchingtabam and Editors' Guild Manipur president Khogendra Khomdram attended the event.

At the finishing point at Yangoi Karong, Manipur Pollution Control Board Chairman L Radhakishore and Loktak Development Authority Chairman L Sushindro received the media team.

As many as forty media personnel took the boat ride to raise awareness.

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