Dry spell calls for water harvesting
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: March 24 2015 -

Remember last year. Seasonal paddy cultivation started only in the last week of July and first week of August.

In April-May, private water tankers were virtually raking the moolah with all water tapes either totally dried up or domestic water supply rationed at the rate of once or twice a week.

This was a common scene in most localities of Imphal and greater Imphal areas. Again the quality of water sold by private tankers at inflated prices was highly dubious.

Yet, all the blame could not be heaped on the private water tanker operators. They were simply trying their best to cope with the burgeoning demand.

Under such circumstances, it was not a matter of surprise when some private water tankers supplied raw, untreated water from Kangla moat, Ningthem Pukhri and Leishang Hiden (Canchipur) to domestic consumers.

The water consumers knew this fact but they too could not help.

Rather, they were contented if they could get a few hundred litres of water every alternate day and it was immaterial whether the water was treated or totally raw.

Quality (of water) which at normal times is always under scrutiny for it can breed disastrous impacts on public health became a luxury which only a few could afford at times of water crisis as seen last year.

In another word, health concerns become secondary when water for daily use becomes so scarce.

We are afraid that a similar situation of water scarcity is lurking on the horizon of Imphal.

Already, Singda Water Plant has announced its plan to ration daily water supply in the backdrop of the fast depleting water volume of Singda Dam.

The problem of water scarcity is not restricted to domestic consumption alone. Farmers in hill districts are staring at a very grave situation as there is little or no pre-monsoon rainfall to start terraced cultivation.

The degree may be lesser or more acute as compared to last year, Imphal and greater Imphal areas are likely to face water problems this year too if the protracted dry spell is any indication.

This is suggestive of the fact that water scarcity is becoming a chronic problem in the State since the past 6/7 years.

Undoubtedly water scarcity is a public issue and when any public issue becomes a chronic problem, it demands intervention of the State.

Every time water scarcity hits the State or paddy cultivation is threatened by scanty rainfall, we cannot help questioning the utility or effectiveness of all the big and small dams built in different parts of the State, much to the deterrence of environment and ecology.

Invoking rain God by means of all kinds of odd and weird rituals is not the answer. The question should be addressed with scientific aptitude and sound rationale.

One can start with effective water harvesting techniques. The Government needs to introspect and retrospect on the many costly dams which could not see the light of day after several decades as well as the dams already commissioned but have failed to deliver.

Considering the fact that Manipur on the average receives annual rainfall of 1467.5 mm as against the all India average of 1081 mm, it was ridiculous that the whole Imphal valley endured acute scarcity of water for domestic consumption during April-May last year, and now peasants are worried on account of shortage of water for paddy cultivation.

Is it not an indication that the State has failed miserably on irrigation projects?

The annual rainfall pattern may have changed a bit due to global climate change but the whole malady cannot be attributed to climate change alone.

The observation that the issue of irrigation is always deliberated in every monsoon session of the State Assembly but no concrete action or plan is visible so far speaks volumes about the Government’s lack of commitment in agriculture sector.

The situation demands the State to formulate a visionary policy for scientific water harvesting and viable irrigation infrastructure rather than confining themselves within the domain of rhetoric.

For too long, the State has neglected agriculture sector.

What is the purpose for protecting agricultural land, when there is no requisite infrastructure for productive agricultural practices?

This is one point the State and all stakeholders should ponder while and after observing the World Water Day.