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Imphal | March 25, 2025<\/p>\n
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In a stark warning on the region\u2019s looming water crisis, Dr. T. Brajakumar Singh, Director of the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, revealed that most rivers flowing through Manipur\u2019s valley areas \u2014 excluding the Barak river \u2014 have become \u201cseasonal\u201d due to the rapid decline of natural springs.<\/p>\n
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Speaking at the World Water Day 2025 event held at Kakching Louyai Lambi (Wairi Thingel), about 50 km south of Imphal, Dr. Brajakumar emphasized the urgency of restoring Manipur\u2019s natural water sources. The event also marked the launch of a year-long campaign to rejuvenate the Kakching Ethei main canal.<\/p>\n
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\u201cNearly 52% of the springs in Manipur are drying up. For instance, 36 out of 96 springs at the Nambul river catchment area have already disappeared,\u201d he said. The Nambul river, which originates in the Kounu hills, passes through Imphal city and drains into Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India.<\/p>\n
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Dr. Brajakumar warned that the drying up of springs is disrupting the natural flow of rivers, impacting both hill and valley regions. This has led to growing water scarcity over the past 5\u201310 years, signaling the potential for a chronic water crisis.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIf we don’t act now to rejuvenate our springs, a day may come when we\u2019ll have to buy water like fuel from neighboring states,\u201d he cautioned.<\/p>\n
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The rejuvenation campaign at Kakching was jointly organized by ADAM Kakching, the management committee of Louyai Lambi Park, and the Indian Red Cross Society, Kakching district branch. The initiative aims to restore the health of the Kakching Ethei canal and create awareness about water conservation.<\/p>\n
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With the state\u2019s water ecosystem under increasing stress, experts and environmentalists are calling for urgent community-driven interventions and sustainable water management strategies.<\/p>\n
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