International Rivers Day Program – Save Sekmai River, Manipur
Date : 14 March 2013

Sekmai River on New Year eve 2013 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

International Rivers Day Program – Manipur, 14 March 2013

Theme: Save Sekmai River, Manipur

Slogans:

We love clean rivers
Save Sekmai River
Moratorium on quarrying and mining in Sekmai River
Water is Life
Sekmai is our cultural heritage

The Sekmai River is one of the largest flowing rivers of Manipur and belongs to the Chindwin-Irrawaddy Basin. Its waters flow into the Loktak-Ikop Wetlands of the southern Manipur Valley before leaving the valley via Ethai and Chingnunghoot. According to Tutenglon Puya, the two sons of Khuyoi Tompok (154 AD), Yoimongba and Taothingmang, personally participated in the dredging of the rivers in Meitrabak (i.e. Manipur). It flows through the ancient sacred citadel of Kangla Pungmayol in Imphal.

As a critical component of keeping our rivers healthy and flowing free, we need to focus our collective attention on the upstream quality of our rivers so that our pats/wetlands are preserved and their ecological services value enhanced.

Sekmai River is famous as a leisure and pleasure spot for the people of Manipur. Continuous indiscriminate sand and stone removal by private operators and contractors has resulted in severe degradation of the river. The river is now known to be under severe threat from the sand and stone miners and the modern picnickers who seem to have no interest on the river except to dump their garbage after their very short version of taking pleasure from the river. Stone and sand miners have local interest, of few, who refuse to talk about ‘saving’ the river as it can affect their profit. Local groups like Meira Paibis and even Clubs have tried to show their concern for restraining miners and picnickers but efforts have been subdued by profit.

While it is not too late the organizations not only from Imphal have decided to take a plunge to see if there can be a solution to the impending crisis if we allow the current trend continues.

We have taken the opportunity of this International Rivers Day-14 March 2013- to bring together community organizations, individuals, CSOs and local clubs for this historic task of saving a river on this earth. And with this we join the effort -a heartwarming one- to save a river-to save many rivers- to save this earth!

Venue: Awang Sekmai

Time: An advance team will leave Imphal by 6:00AM. Meeting is scheduled to begin by 10:30 AM (meeting begins) after an early meal.

Food: Tea and buns along with a lunch will be arranged at the venue. For better coordination please contact organizers.

Program includes. Public Meeting, Planning for Sekmai River, River Cleaning, Meeting, Depart

Contributions toward this program are solicited. We need some funds towards sound system, banners, tea and buns, food, paper cups, bags and hand-glove for garbage collections, tents, etc.

We appreciate any additional ideas on saving rivers. Bring your stuff!

Organizers

1. Advance Women’s Society, Awang Sekmai (14 leikais)
2. Forum for Indigenous Perspectives & Action (FIPA)
3. Centre for Organisation Research & Education (CORE)
4. Environment & Human Development (EHUD)
5. Manipur Cycle Club (MCC)
6. Human to Humane Transcultural Centre for Torture and Trauma (H2H)
7. Gorkha Jyoti Youth Club (GJYC), Kanglatongbi
8. United Peoples’ Front (UPF)
9. EREIMA Gender Empowerment and Resource Centre
10. Other clubs to be added