Thoubal River in dire state: People for Animals
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 04 2025: People for Animals (PFA), Manipur has stated that the Thoubal River is in dire condition due to unregulated sand quarrying over the years, as can be easily seen using Google Earth.

In a release, PFA Manipur managing trustee L Biswajeet Meitei said that the flow of Thoubal River had changed directions.

The quarry activities for red sand have left many areas denuded.

After the court imposed restrictions, satellite images of the river from 2019 till 2025 were examined and it showed the alarming changes.

This indicates that the restriction imposed by the High Court had no effect whatsoever.

In addition, the turbidity of the river is of two types.

One is due to usage of machinery for sand mining from the river bed, and the other from nearby hills and washing the same in the river.

The release continued that PFA submitted a letter to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on March 22 against the illegal sand quarrying being carried out in Thoubal River.

On March 24, it further submitted a complaint along with supporting documents and evidences to the Chief Justice of Manipur High Court to initiate contempt proceedings so as to prevent any further quarrying activities in the River.

PFA further submitted a letter to the amicus curiae of the PIL and the advocate general regarding the matter.

Subsequently, there were reports of arrests of people illegally quarrying sand from the bank of the river in Thoubal district at the beginning of April.

However, there have been no changes to those quarrying sand in the hills using excavator and washing the same in parts of the river flowing through Imphal East district.

Thus, PFA drew the attention of the Governor and the Chief Justice to help save the dying river.

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