Steps on to rejuvenate natural springs: Director
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 06 2024:
Directorate of Environment and Climate Change director Tourangbam Brajakumar has informed that relevant measures would be initiated to rejuvenate dried up natural springs at 10 locations in the hill districts.
On Friday, the Directorate organised "Conclave on Climate Resilient Spring shed: Research Practice & Policy" at Classic Hotel, North AOC.
In his address, Dr Brajakumar said that the first spring shed project taken up in Lunghar village of Ukhrul district, has been a huge success.
The dried up springs in the village starting discharge of water substantiates success of the pilot project.
He informed that efforts would be made to rejuvenate 10 more natural springs in five hill districts within the financial year.
The districts include Noney (Ngailuwangkung, Padan, Longtiyang Dunldiun and Taichang Dunkhun), Kamjong (Tamakhong and Nungkai), Tamenglong (Gadai), Chandel (Charangching Khunou Spring) and Senapati (Kanai Duikung and Marai Duikung).
He continued that impact of climate change and other factors have led to the drying up of around 52 percent of the springs in the state.
As such, most of the rivers in the state have become seasonal.
With many of the springs in the hills drying up and interrupting flow of the rivers, both hills and valley have been facing water shortage issues for the past 5-10 years, raising concerns of chronic water scarcity situation.
Thus, the rejuvenation works are being taken up to prevent such scenario, he added.
Dr Brajakumar then recounted that after taking stock of the impact on water resources due to the drying up of springs, concerted efforts are being made with the stakeholders concerned for the last five years to rejuvenate the springs, with around 500 springs identified till date.
He said that the conclave was organised to discuss the effects of climate change on springs, with researchers, planners, practitioners from Manipur University, Central Agricultural University, NIT, line departments and community stakeholders, and also experts from Meghalaya and Nagaland.
The findings/recommendations obtained from the same would be used for formulating or strengthening policy frameworks around spring conservation and water resource management, he added.
During the conclave, experts from ICI-MOD, Nepal; Advanced Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (ACWADAM), Pune and GB Pant NIHE, Almora shared their experience with regard to the pilot spring shed project, Lunghar Project, in Manipur.
Later, panel discussions were held on the topics of "Case studies on spring shed management", "Research on Climate Change Impact on Springs" and "Practice on spring shed management by community involvement", wherein experts from Meghalaya Basin Development Authority, Meghalaya and Department of Land Resources, Nagaland, and community resource persons Mountain Indigenous Knowledge Centre (MIKC), Volunteers for Village Development (VVD), Ukhrul, COSFOM, and Geo Science Forum Ukhrul shared their knowledge and experiences.
Comment
