Water crisis an opportunity to fast-track policy changes
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: February 17, 2023 -

AS the water crisis in the state getting worsen with every passing summer, it is clear that the bureaucrats and policymakers haven't been able to live up to the public's expectation when it comes to working out immediate and long-term solutions.

This time, the situation seems to have been worsened even more due to the widespread destruction caused to the natural forests for poppy plantations contrary to claims by the Forest Department that the state has recorded increase in forested area.

Amid imminent aggravation of the situation, the administration seems to have taken refuge under the pretext of decking up Imphal and Moirang for the G20 events for not taking steps to arrange for drinking water, thus leaving the people high and dry, literally.

This time of the year generally witnesses drought-like situation not only in Manipur but also in many other parts of the country including states where massive rivers flow.

The recurrence of water crisis every year had even led to critical remarks from concerned stakeholders that the national and regional governments are not according importance to initiating requisite steps to address the situation.

Moreover, it hasn't helped that the Centre altered the drought manual in 2016, making the parameters for declaring drought more stringent consequently reducing the scope for Central assistance.

Critics also expressed awe that the country's think-tank, the NITI Aayog, which brought out its 'Composite Water Management Index' some years back and flagged the calamitous situation with respect to water, has not intervened in the interest of 'cooperative federalism' regardless of identifying that 600 million people face high-to-extreme water stress; 75 per cent of households do not have drinking water on premises; and 70 per cent of the water is contaminated.

With a well-endowed state like Manipur facing water scarcity every year, it is obvious that the current apathy cannot continue.

Instead, longterm solutions must be worked out as holding the poppy plantations entirely accountable for the rapid drying up of rivers and water bodies as soon as the monsoons cease wouldn't bring any solution.

Though large tracts of the hills have been stripped of the trees and vegetation the fact remains that Manipur also faces floods thereby implying that the state continues to receive abundant rainfall during the monsoon seasons but has failed to effectively implement the rain water harvesting projects for which the Union government has allocated budgetary provision after realising that since the past few years there has been deficit monsoon and post-monsoon rainfall.

While it is imperative for the government of Manipur to reverse deforestation so that floods don't devastate landscapes and people, but instead lead to recharge of groundwater levels, policies for sustainable utilisation of the groundwater must be explored to benefit the masses instead of a handful of packaged drinking water firms taking full advantage of the vast reserve of the groundwater.

Apart from rainwater harvesting, investment in waste water recycling cannot be put off for longer, at least for non-potable use. If Singapore and even Windhoek (Namibia) can do it, there's no reason why Manipur cannot.

As such, it is suggested that the state government converts the present challenge into an opportunity to fast-track institutional and policy changes that will help insulate the state and its people from serious losses of crops and livelihoods under similar conditions in future.