Dialogue on water scarcity held
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 25 2019: A one day dialogue on 'Water scarcity in Manipur: Issues and intervention' was held at 1st MR banquet hall as part of the 103rd birthday of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya today.

PWD Minister Thongam Biswajit, who attended the function as the chief guest, underlined the consequences of water scarcity and its negative impact on all living beings.

Maintaining that water is one of the most important essential elements of life, the Minister stated that scarcity of water will not only lead to lack of drinking water but also lack of water to grow crops as well, which in turn will impact production.

The world has come to this stage because humans rigorously used up all the natural resources and failed to take up any measures to sustain the resources, Biswajit said.

The world has begun to face grave consequences of human actions and now, the State is also experiencing scanty rainfall, scorching temperature and a climate which has never been experienced before, he said and added that all of these factors have definitely affected the State's 70 agricultural blocks.

Informing that people are dying every year as a result of global warming, the Minister said that the State is experiencing a drastic change in temperature with Imphal reaching 36.7 degree Celsius, Moreh reaching 38.16 degree Celsius and Noney touching 39.9 degree Celsius.

The people are facing a new climate which they have never experienced before in Manipur with the weather similar to the high temperatures of metropolitan cities, he remarked adding that the people will face the same fate if they continue to neglect the rapid degradation of forests and environment.

Maintaining that jhum cultivation in the hill areas is one of the major factors adding to climate change, he said that the Government is also unable to act or intervene on this issue as this is the livelihood of the farmers concerned.

As a preventive measure, several remedial steps are underway including the plantation of Agor in the hilly regions, maintained the Minister.

Farmers can grow Agor plants faster and can receive profit from selling the plants quickly, Biswajit said, adding that the initiative will decrease the immense felling of trees and provide livelihood to the people at the same time.

Claiming that the State Government, in association with stakeholders, entrepreneurs and organisations, have planted more than 10,000 tree saplings so far, he appealed to all to contribute in saving the State before it is too late.

Biswajit noted that areas around Imphal city are often flooded and Imphal and Iril rivers overflow whenever it rains and added that the causes of such scenarios are lack of policy and lack of control/management of water from the catchment area.

He underscored the need for the Sate Government to put more focus on the matter and added that the authorities concerned are taking up all possible measures.

The Minister continued that establishing water reservoirs at zonal levels will prove to be more effective when it comes to providing water rather than launching small projects.

The failure to implement intermediate and short term plan is causing the water crisis, he said.

Later, a technical session chaired by Department of Anthropology, MU Professor W Nabakumar was held in which Department of Agronomy, CAU, Head Professor L Nabachandra and Department of Environment Deputy Director Dr T Brajakumar and other experts spoke on water crisis and related topics.

Meanwhile, Dean, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Manipur University Professor N Rajmuhon and WRD secretary Jacintha Lazarus attended the function as president and guest of honour respectively.

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