The rotten city
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: January 16 2013 -

Steady rise in pollution level and ugly sight of garbage piles would have raised the hackles of health conscious people in other part of the globe.

But it seems to be an altogether a different thing for the denizens of Imphal.

It may be a common sight to see hordes of people of every possible age group taking out morning stroll on the roads of Imphal every day and this may give the impression that the denizens of Imphal are not behind anybody when it comes to the question of health consciousness and the desire to stay young and healthy as long as possible.

But the sad part of the story is that Imphal is today becoming a polluted city to such an extent that there is apprehension that instead of doing any good, morning joggers may land up in some hospitals.

Wherever one looks around the instant sight that greeted the eyes of beholders is the littering of garbage with no one to think over or come up with any mechanism for proper management and disposal of the waste materials being generated by the ever increasing onrush of people to the tiny State capital.

On the other hand, contrary to any possible hope for improvement in the vehicular traffic flow along the congested roads of Imphal, the fumes emitted from numerous condemned vehicles plying on the roads have made the air toxic.

It's common knowledge what would be the consequences of inhaling poisonous air filled with carbon monoxide released from vehicular emission and the putrid smell emanated from the scattering garbage on the health of the people.

But who cares about all these possible health complications?

Imphal Municipal Council (IMC) which is supposed to be looking after cleanliness of the city has no time to spare with all its elected councilors engaged in intense politicking of trying to topple one another.

The same is true about the Pollution Control Board, whose officials and staffs are sleeping over the legislations and bye-laws enacted from time to time for controlling pollution and rejuvenate the environment.

This is not to say that the denizens of Imphal are blameless and they have no role in the present state of affairs prevailing in the air above and the ground below of Imphal.

In fact, lack of civic sense has been one defining character of Imphalites, who have no qualm over littering round the city as long as their houses and shops are in order.

But the fact still remains that Imphal is the capital city and it is face of Manipur.

The first desire of any visitor from outside is to see Imphal and its market places, specially the historic and famed Khwairamband Ima Keithel. It is upto us to decide what kind of impression we want to give to the visitors, and the choice is ours, not anyone else.