Perils and possibilities
- Imphal Times Editorial :: July 21 2017 -

The present situation arising in the state in the wake of the repeated havoc created by the recurring floods is set to worsen and in fact, the undesirable consequences that always follows a flood is already starting to show.

Cases of Japanese encephalitis have started emerging from different places. Other symptoms and complications due to cholera, typhoid etc is surely bound to increase.

The state government should make necessary arrangements to reduce the instances of these threats to the society while there is still time- a luxury at present but one which will not be available for the asking in the very near future.

True, the vagaries of nature cannot be foretold nor prevented. But we can certainly lessen the impact of such natural phenomena if due diligence is paid in the planning and execution of various agencies specifically established for implementing preventive as well as relief measures for victims of such natural calamities.

There is also the added concern of shortage of foodgrains and poor harvest of various crops since the repeated floods have laid waste to vast tracks of cultivations.

This in turn brings up the issue of the increasingly talked about incidents of ‘plastic rice’ and ‘plastic eggs’ as well as ‘plastic cabbage’ finding their way into the local market causing harm to the consumers.

The issue as of now remains vague to a majority of the public in the state as to the methods of identifying these reportedly spurious commodities.

Efforts to spread awareness regarding the existence and circulation of these adulterated and spurious consumables on the part of the state government have been totally absent so far.

And as if mother nature has decided to test the resilience and adaptability of the people of the state, landslides and sunken roads along both the lifelines of the state at various different points along these roads have proved to be a huge obstacle in the ongoing efforts to provide relief and essential commodities to the victims of these natural calamities.

However, every setback can also be an opportunity. The state government should grasp the opportunity to study and device means and ways to reduce the impact of the vagaries of nature.

Given the possibility of such floods recurring in the future on a regular basis, appropriate plans can be drawn up to create natural reservoirs and to improve on the existing lakes and other naturally existing water bodies to be able to hold larger volumes of water which will serve the public during the dry season.

This very unfortunate occurrence should also be used to study the drainage system so that every possible disruptions, misaligned and blocked as well as damaged portions can be repaired or modified according to necessity.

Possibility of improved means and methods of farming and cultivation of various crops can be explored.

Given the unpredictable nature of the highways serving as the lifelines of the state, the state government should push for self-sustainability by utilizing resources at its disposal.

This will also put an end to the blatant abuse of territorial and geographical advantages to hold the state to ransom.

The present natural disaster is indeed an opportunity to turn things around for the better. But as always, things will unfold exactly how we made it.