Thoughts of a River

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Thoughts of a River

By: Chingshang *

Actually, our capital is blessed with some of the nature’s most essential components. One must not underestimate the extra geographical location it enjoys since time immemorial.

It is a matter of pride and honor for all of us if we just turn back the pages of our rich historical past. Probably we were the only civililization flourished in the eastern India with well organized administrative machinery in the form of 7 clans or Salais.

The historic Kangla is, no doubt, a testimony to the golden epoch that Manipuri society enjoyed over the peripheral amalgamations of different communities. Of late there is a lot of chaos, crisis, identity confusion, economic failure and host of other unwanted events which people normally addressed as failure of law and order that dogged our society.

This is mainly because of the creation of undoing for the seemingly possible plethora of developmental propositions. Finally what the society reflects is the incompatibility of utilization of the available resources to its promised level.

Well, this is only one side of the coin which normally falls either head or tail when one throw it up high in the sky. The chances for falling ‘ in between’ is very bleak even though it is not an absolute impossibility.

I am really proud of the locational advantages that our state enjoys over many states of the country. Many may not agree with me due to other inherent things to ponder.

The impression and fact that we grow along with is our state is full of problems, problems and more problems. Like any other most beautiful cities of the world, Imphal city is also located on the banks of two most important rivers of the state, Nambul and Imphal river.

In many cases, other cities have only one. Indeed we are lucky enough to have more than one. People are better aware of London on Thames, Paris on Seine, and Delhi on Yamuna, so on and so forth.

Melbourne on the bank of Yarra

Melbourne is also another world famous city which is blessed with its locational advantages. Its true, Melbourne was selected as the seat of administration for Victoria State mainly because of its extremely advantageous position.

It is located on the banks of Yarra river with its many other tributaries like Merry creek, Monee ponds creek etc. The river runs for about 242 kilometers and empties into the Port Phillip Bay and ultimately to the southern sea.

Why I am particularly interested in this river is its relatively cleanliness despite its course through the middle of the city. The river is flanked on both the sides by many huge and high rise buildings, fancy hotels and restaurants and of course it is the hip and happening area of Melbourne.

But still then it is unquestionably clean. Many bridges have constructed over the river along with the expansion of the city to ease the flow of traffic. Indeed, the river is a major gateway for recreational activities of the city.

Many cruises and boats ply on the river for tourists. Bicycle trails are constructed along the river which is very convenient for the people to have their weekend gateway.

I still remember how I reached Melbourne International Airport by following the Monee ponds creek bicycle trail. It’s a snaking bicycle path following the minute bends of the river.

I like cycling around the Yarra trail at the weekends and that’s one of the best parts to see the city around. You can continuously link between Yarra trail, Capital city trail and bayside trail and enjoy your cycling without the hindrance of city traffic.

It is a well marked, paved, dedicated bicycle path constructed along the river. Just by following the trail you can reach almost all the suburbs of Melbourne.

That’s something which I just could not do without thinking Manipur with. There are various ways of emulating the same in the state.

Yarra as seen from Burwood road

Yes, at the moment the river is not designated as a ‘swimming possible area’. But it is clean enough to have the same.

It is believed that the major source of pollution of the river is dog excrement, motor oil from the boats and cruises and many other urban litters added during the rainfall. Unleashing of dogs in the parks and water body areas is not permitted now.

Human sewage leaking from broken pipes, illegal sewer and from overflows during rain is reported as the main source of current bacterial contamination. But the concerted effort put up by the administration to clean up the mesh in the river is paying more than they expected.

One can see cleaning efforts on any given day. Many schools and colleges which are located along the river has their rowing classes in the river.

On Sundays and Saturdays you can find many people rowing in the river. Many rowing clubs and their sheds are also located along the stretch of the river. Even fishing is possible in the upper reaches of the river.

The catchments area of the river supplies most of the Melbourne’s water requirements. The well paved promenades along the river enhance its beauty too. There is no construction of embankments as such along the course of the river except in the docklands area where the river empties.

Due to the rapid expansion and improvement in the port of Melbourne, there is lots of changes taking place in the mouth of the Yarra River They allow the natural flow of the river with or without minimal intervention.

Only thing that they do is stringent environmental protection laws and their strict implementation. Of course major role has to be played by the general public. Without people’s awareness of the significance of the effort put up by the administration, the projects may have very little impact or no impact.

I find the citizens here are environmentally aware and sensitive to the relevant issues. There is no way as such of throwing rubbish, leftovers and garbage everywhere one wishes to.

They have designated garbage bins, normally two at a given place, one for paper and other leftovers and other one for glasses and plastics, which they will utilize for recycling. People are strictly adhered to the system. This minute attitude works wonders in improving the overall cleanliness of the city.

They too have special vehicles that clean the roads and pavements of the city. What I am just trying to convey here is that people show the same respect for water bodies also. They don’t throw rubbish in Yarra river at any point of time.

Now the hot topic among the people and administration here is about Global warming and climate change. Hope I can contribute one more article in this perspective in the coming days.

Cycling along Yarra trail

Well, everything seems to be bright for them and its working perfectly the way it has to be. No doubt, our rivers are also beautiful and useful. But the way we handle or disrespect or manage or whatever you called, is harming more than improving its natural course.

Sometimes I am on my own fantasy world where the Nambul and Imphal rivers are flowing with clean water and act as an alternate way for moving men and material in the form of mechanized boats and ferries.

The banks of the river are marked with tree line boulevards and promenades. People are strolling in the evening along the banks. I know, I am so stupid to live in the fantasy world.

But improvement of both the rivers of Manipur is not an absolute impossibility. It requires changing the mindset of our thinking and a collective effort with a vision and mission to improve.

How, when and what has to be answered along with the process of development. I also agree to the fact that Yarra river and rivers of Manipur have different geographical features and varying associated climatic conditions.

We are in the tropics and they are in the temperate region and in different hemispheres. Carrying capacity of the river varies and so is the sediment accumulation and nature of flows.

But I don’t consider it as just an area for lame excuses. Different societies flourished at different physical environments and ‘everywhere’ development is addressed as development and development is made by possible by its citizens using the available resources to the optimum level.

Right?

See you all in the next article. Thanks .

Check out the gallery on Yarra River here.

* Chingshang, a Graduate student at University of Melbourne, contributes regularly to e-pao.net . The writer can be contacted at rockm(at)rediffmail(dot)com . This article was webcasted on November 23rd 2007.

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