Water, a source of wealth in Imphal City !

James Khangenbam *

Water Scarcity and distribution of water in Imphal City in March 2015 :: Pix - Shankar Khangembam

When it comes to natural spring Manipur is destined to have quite a lot of water resource considering the forest cover which is 74 percent of the total geographical area. Streamlining the water for consumption is a step ahead to properly harvesting the water.

Water is a source of wealth, a flowing currency. When Singda dam dried up since January 2023, people living in Imphal city have been paying the private water tanker at a maximum rate of approximately 50 paisa per litre till last week of march.

By March last week and April first week, the delayed pre monsoon rain arrived moderately and the river running in the state gain some stream. It had softened the dried vegetable roots. Yet the dried Singda dam is far beyond restoration.

The water reservoirs fed by the dam is running dry though it had supplied for couple of single digit days since late January. People are still relying on private tankers at the rate of approximately Rs 25 Paisa per litre of water.

A private water tank service provider felt that, this year the water scarcity arises a month earlier than the previous year. Perhaps climate change and the late monsoon are some solid reasons. But the drying up of Singda dam is a different indicator which calls for a solid assessment.

It is not in the case of Mapithel Dam at Thoubal which is of course a bigger dam. An aerial assessment along the catchment area of Singda Dam can detect of any deforestation.

How do we make up the lost and how can we prevent the shortage of water supply in Imphal city is a thing to ponder. It is quite a relieve for many people, as pre monsoon rain arrive making a 50 percent discount in water price from private water suppliers who fetch water from different locations outside of the Imphal city. Many people also harvest rain water.

Summer is ahead, it arrives before the rainy season, will the city face more acute shortage of water in the days to come. How does the city solve its problem. The fluctuation in the pre monsoon rain is an indicator of climate change.

Yet forests are the biggest reservoir of water. Nothing is as wise as nature. There is water in other districts. How do we bring it to the city. The authority did releases water sourced from Chingkhei Ching Water treatment plant in the river running through area hit by water scarcity along Singjamei etc.

Water from Loktak Lake also travelled 18 kilometers towards Imphal reaching upto Malom for distribution. Things are moving, yet unfulfilling. The pre monsoon rain arrived timely easing a bit.

But uncertainty lurks about the coming days and years. Singda Dam is far beyond the condition to supply adequate water as rainfall is scanty. An inter district water pipeline between Thoubal @ Mapithel Dam and Imphal West could be a winning situation.

Mapithel Dam acting as a substitute during dry windy season and summer season for years to come. The most populated area of Imphal is running dry. The city is reeling under acute shortage of water.