Water shortage hits hard public as major rivers run dry
Erratic rainfall, deforestation, poppy farming major causes of water shortage
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 15 2023: As most of the major rivers are drying up, several water supply schemes run by the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) have stopped operation and regular distribution, leaving the public at the mercy of private water carriers and forced to pay high price to get their daily requirement of water.

PHE minister Leishangthem Susindro had earlier said that the department will open pumping stations within a couple of days and construct check dams to mitigate hardships besetting the public due to the evolving situation at least to some extent.

Among the major rivers which are sources of several water supply schemes, Imphal Riveris the most affected source of water.

There is no longer any water flowing in the river.

Several stretches of the river have dried up completely in many areas between Minuthong and Lilong including the area underneath the recently inaugurated Kangla Nongpok Thong.

Pool of water could be seen only in some deeper section of the river.

As a result, several water supply schemes, which source their water from the river, had stopped functioning.

At the same time, water levels of Iril and Kongba rivers are also low though one could see flow of water in some parts of the rivers The situation has forced water supply schemes in Porompat and Top Khongnang Makhong areas to stop functioning about 20 days ago.

The situation is same in several parts of the state.

A recent aerial survey conducted in connection with War on Drugs campaign found large area de forested for poppy plantations along Thangjing, Chakpikarong, Saikul and Koubru hill ranges.

Forest cover in hills play crucial role in retaining water rainwater underneath the soil, which is then released through small streams to join the rivers.

However, large scale deforestation being experienced in the State has severely affected the water retention capacity in the hills, especially in the catchment areas of the rivers.

Besides, loss of forest cover severely affects the climatic condition of the state resulting in drastic changes in rainfall pattern.

Rainfall has become more and more erratic in the past few years.

With all these factors, rivers are drying up rapidly in the lean season.

Even perennial rivers are also drying up causing an acute situation, which needs urgent intervention to revert the condition.

As per data of the past six years received from ICAR Lamphelpat, 2017 and 2020 recorded excess rainfall of 66.99 per cent and 11.38 per cent respectively.

On the other hand, 2018 (-9.25 percent), 2019 (-22.16 per cent), 2021 (-11.06 per cent), and 2022 (-7.50 per cent) experienced rainfall deficit.

The data shows severe deviation from the normal rainfall .December 2022 recorded 18.8 mm rainfall against the average rainfall of 14.9 mm.

The average rainfall in January normally is 12.8 mm but no rainfall activity could be seen till date.

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