Ailing Nambul River recovering: Let's keep it alive
- Imphal Times Editorial :: August 01 2020 -

The ailing Nambul River, which is the face of the Imphal city, finally sees hopes of restoring to its normalcy with the kind of work being taken up to rejuvenate it under the supervision of some committed government officials.

The river was life for the people in the once upon a time but it has converted to killer river for the people of today.

According to Deputy Director of the Directorate of environment, Dr. T. Brajakumar, the pollution level at Nambul is so high that even scientists fears skin damage while collecting the river water from various places for laboratory purpose.

IIt is indeed a blessing in disguise, the lockdown and simultaneous closures of market area in Imphal has help reduced the pollution level in the last thre/four months.

Saying so there were n dearth for people assuming the Nambul River as site for throwing garbage.

May be due to lack of awareness or perhaps the people have no other means that they threw the garbage at the river and its bank.

But during this lockdown, the Environment department timely acted. The ailing river now is slow recovering.

And if the trend continue, it won’t take long for Nambul to become another River Thames of the United Kingdom.

As per report of the Assessment of Water Quality Index of Nambul River published at International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) in December 2016, the WQI value for the water samples collected ranges from 103.89-115.34.

The highest WQI value of115.34 was recorded from Hump Bridge site which is in the dense populated area of Imphal city.

The WQI value which crosses 100 is unsuitable for human use. Even aquatic life doesn’t survive.

Two years after the condition is worsen. The Water Quality Index (WQI) is crossing 200, at some place the WQI reaches 253 (subject to correction about the exact figure as it was informally procured from Environment department authority).

Every citizen of the state knows that Nambul has become one of the most polluted Rivers not only in Manipur but also in the entire planet.

What is worrying to the people if that the present condition of Nambul River has also become a threat to the one and only fresh water lake Loktak, a Ramsar Site and the largest freshwater lake in North East India.

Nambul River drains into the Loktak Lake. As per scientific findings Nambul river generates about 72.23 tons of solid waste and 31.207 cubic meter of sewage every day in (the data has been increase this year).

Even after knowing all this facts, people continue to pollute the river. No citizens, no matter how literate they are or how knowledgeable they are, about the impact of spoiling the Nambul River, almost all sections dump the waste garbage in River.

Some few years back, short term measures like construction of retaining wall at both the river banks or imposition of certain laws to punish those who throw garbage at the River bed or bank were seen taken up.

However, the state government this time seems to be serious. They are making a long term plant to make sure that Nambul River is useable once more.

With the kind of project take up to rejuvenate the Nambul River, people now sees hope that aquatic lives are seen after so many years.

But then, this dream of making live the Nambul River depends to the citizen. Without the support of the people it will be next to impossible to either save the Nambul River or the Fresh water Lake – Loktak.

The government team which is implementing the works for treatment of Nambul River, has wisely invited community to participate in the making of Nambul River a clean one.

It is also learnt that the govt. team under the initiative of the Environment Department is appointing some people on payment basis to clean the river bank from Keishampat to Khwairamband Keithel Thong Nambonbi is an appreciable attempt.

But then, it should be remembered by the authority that such measures should not be simple for getting appreciation from the people.

It should be with clear motives to clean the river bank. Once the river bank is maintained and keep clean there will no better place for people to enjoy evening walk.

For this too the river water need to be keep clean.

Hope the ongoing rejuvenation works at Nambul River gives life to the dying river which is the face of Imphal city.