Memo urges flood, drought control policy
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 05 2024: Irabot Foundation, Manipur on Thursday submitted a memorandum to the chief minister demanding investigation into the cause and reason for recurring floods and droughts in Manipur as well as for formulating an effective policy to address the same.

The memorandum pressed for establishing river basin planning management which will consult with local populace and formalise plans for using the river water for supplying potable water, irrigation and industrial use; inclusion of wetlands in the state under Ramsar Convention; conduct of survey on land use in the state; paying compensation after bringing out a white paper on damages caused by the recent flood; forming a high-power expert committee to look into regular occurrence of floods and droughts in the state and the need for the public to stop encroaching on drains and keeping the drains under fixed size.

Addressing a press meet at Manipur Press Club regarding the memorandum on Friday, Foundation president Kh Gopen Luwang stated that in last 15 years, incidents of flood and drought-like situation have increased manifold.

Listing the reasons for recent floods, he cited deforestation in the catchment areas, deforestation activities in the hills and lack of effort for de-siltation of river and non-construction of retaining wall on riverbanks.

Kh Gopen further pointed out that wetlands of Manipur like Loktak, Pumlenpat, Kharungpat, Waithoupat, etc., do not possess characteristic of water bodies any more, while adding that these wetlands instead of remaining inundated the whole year, remain dry throughout the year, a glaring example for these wetlands failing in management of rainwater during rainfall.

He also said that due to absence of proper land use policy in the state, many issues crop up when flash floods occur.

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