Imphal, June 04: A great change in the climatic condition of Manipur is being witnessed over the last few decades with the rise in the temperature level at the rate of 0.1 degree Celsius every year and the quantity of rainfall decreasing in this State which was once considered as one of the highest rainfed regions of the world, according to the findings of the Environmental Research and Development Laboratory of Environment and Ecology Wing.

Talking to The Sangai Express in connection with the World Environment Day which is being observed under the theme of 'Melting Ice A hot topic' all over the world tomorrow, Analyst in-charge of the Laboratory Dr T Brajakumar said that the range of temperature in Manipur was considered normally as 0 degree Celsius to 22 degree Celsius since early times.

But the research conducted by the Laboratory of the Environment and Ecology Wing on the basis of the Metrological datas of the last five years has come up with the startling conclusion that the range of temperature in Manipur today is 15 degree Celsius to 31 degree Celsius.

The fact that the minimum range of temperature has been recorded as 15 degree Celsius indicates that the mercury level has been on the rise and there are no more days of 0 degree Celsius in Manipur.

The research conducted by the Laboratory has also come to the conclusion that the rise of temperature level in Manipur has been 0.1 degree Celsius on an average every year.

This change in the climatic condition is really alarming, Brajakumar said, while informing that the rate of rainfall recorded in Manipur which was once considered as one of the places receiving highest rainfall in the world has also been decreasing over the last few yeaRs The quantity of rainfall received in 2005 was not even half of the quantity received in 2002, he disclosed , while observing that if this trend continues then a crisis of shortage of water in Manipur is imminent in the near future.

Replying to a question on how such drastic change has come about in the climatic condition of Manipur, he cited deforestation and filling of natural water bodies like lake and swampy areas as the main causes of the climatic changes in Manipur.

Natural water bodies like lake and low lying swampy areas used to play a major role in maintaining the environmental balance in Manipur, Brajakumar noted.

So every efforts should be made to preserve these natural water bodies, he added.

He further informed that the level of humidity in Manipur, which is recorded currently in the range of 60 percent and 85 percent is very high but the rate of its precipitation is very low.

A sea change in the climatic condition is also being witnessed all over the world today.

According to the report of the United Nations, the temperature has been on the rise at the rate of 0.4 degree Celsius to 0.6 degree Celsius after every decade.

At this current rate, there is the possibility of even reaching the boiling point by 2100 AD.

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