WED observance amid flood crisis
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: June 07, 2025 -

FOR two consecutive years, the state observed World Environment Day in the shadow of flood devastation, caused primarily due to overflowing of river water and breach of river banks.

In the 2024 flood, also triggered by breaching of the Imphal river bank, low laying areas in Imphal West district faced inundation for nearly a week, with Laipham Khunou and Nagaram the worst affected parts, whereas this year's deluge forced displacement of hundreds of families in Imphal East district and caused irreparable damages to dwelling houses in Khurai and Heingang areas.

The first flood was expected to spur the government authorities to initiate effective flood mitigation measures but to no avail as is evident from repetition of banks breaching this year and many residential pockets still remaining in waist-deep flood waters.

Even as security forces and civil society organisations are proactively involved in rescue and relief operations, the flood crisis has provided an opportunity to leaders of the Congress party to put the blame on government inefficiency and negligence for suffering of the flood-affected communities.

Interestingly, the prevailing flood situation has seen the Congress leaders accusing the erstwhile BJP government of misusing funds allocated by the central government to implement flood control projects in the state.

Veteran politician Okram Joy went to the extent of terming this year's devastating flood as a man-made calamity rather than a natural disaster, and alleging government negligence and lack of preparedness in preventing flooding of such a magnitude.

He also contended that insincerity in executing flood mitigation projects resulted in the ongoing flood.

The seasoned politician also cautioned that the current flood, triggered by pre-monsoon rainfall, is basically a forewarning for another bout of deluge is imminent during the peak of monsoons.

Similar to the fund misuse charge levelled by Congress MLA and party's state president K Meghachandra some days back, joy alleged that flood mitigation projects and infrastructure to reduce and resolve the impact of flood-related unwanted events were not executed judiciously.

As a former minister in charge of flood and water management, there must be some substance in joy's observation that riverine systems like Chandranadi, Waishel, Kongba, and Naga rivers should be maintained in operational mode to funnel excess rainwater, authorities concerned must carry out development works by strictly conforming to the Manipur Flood Plain Zoning Act or other relevant regulations, and efficient management of the Ithai Barrage in maintaining water level for the Loktak Project as well as for flood mitigation.

Apart from the political commentaries, suggestions shared by environmentalists including ways and means to incorporate lessons on global warming and its impact, and framing policies that inhibit the policy makers and implementers from causing harm to the environment should be acknowledged by the government, and all structural development projects must align with protection of the forests, rivers, mountains and the entire biodiversity system.

Policy makers must keep in mind that climate change is not just an environmental issue but also a social, economic and political challenge, which if ignored would be detrimental to various sectors such as agriculture, health, employment, and food security.

Hopefully, the government would realise the importance of framing policies which blend science, technology and traditional knowledge, and severest of penalties to whoever abets adverse climate change.