IMPHAL, December 8: Headman of various villages of Chandel have resolved to strongly opposed any policy of the State government to construct dams above the Chakpi River said Tongsin Willingson, MDC Chandel.
The MDC 12 Chandel District Headquarter, stated this during the inaugural observation of India Rivers Day 2015 under the theme of Chakpi Riverine Ecosystem and its past, present and future at the indoor stadium of United College Chandel.
He further said that people of Chandel want to declare that it would steadfastly object any disturbance and obstruction of free flowing Chakpi River under any policy of the State government.
He exhorted the people of Chandel that in such situations there is a need to understand the importance of water body or river.
“We should not pollute water and the forest, grassland and wetlands as it serve as nature’s water filter. It helps to control erosion and pollution from flowing into water bodies”, said Willingson.
At present, the Chakpi River is at risk as a result of deforestation and pollution due to activities like dumping of waste materials, using detergent, unconventional fishing style by using dynamo, powder which harmed the ecosystem of the river adding that in order to preserve the Chakpi River the people should stop this immediately.
Dr RK Ranjan, convener Indian National Trust for Arts and Culture Heritage Manipur Chapter said that the Chaikpi River has a unique history closely related to the Anal, Tarao and Meitei community.
Unfortunately, the unique history entwining the Chakpi River and certain community has been threatened by the policy of Manipur government regarding construction of a dam above the river.
Once the dam is constructed every history of the Chakpi River will be extinct forever, he said.
According to Willingson, around 600 hectre of paddy fields and 45 villages altogether will be sub-merged if the proposed dam is constructed.
Rk Shivachandra president Indo-Myanmar Fraternal Alliance said that for a state or a country, rivers are like blood arteries when it is blocked or destroyed the whole body might collapse.
He observed that all the major rivers of Manipur are vulnerable to pollution and man-made threat like deforested.
Despite this alarming situation the forest department of state miserably failed to take initiatives to preserve, promote and develop the condition of our river or water bodies, said the MDC.
He claimed that the condition of Nambol River which flows through the Imphal city is becoming worse at present adding that he blamed the government for not taking initiative to preserves the natural resources of the state.
Nevertheless, it is not too late to save our rivers or water bodies if proper awareness programme regarding water pollutions is organised at a larger scale, continued the Chandel MDC.
The function was jointly organised by Indian National Trust for Art and Culture Haritage Manipur Chapter, Directorate of Environment and Ecology government of Manipur, United College Chandel and Manipur Cultural Integration Conference.