Rivers Turning Seasonal in Manipur: 52% of Natural Springs Drying Up, Says Climate Expert

Imphal | March 25, 2025

In a stark warning on the region’s looming water crisis, Dr. T. Brajakumar Singh, Director of the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, revealed that most rivers flowing through Manipur’s valley areas — excluding the Barak river — have become “seasonal” due to the rapid decline of natural springs.

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’s natural water sources. The event also marked the launch of a year-long campaign to rejuvenate the Kakching Ethei main canal.

“Nearly 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,” 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.

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 5–10 years, signaling the potential for a chronic water crisis.

“If we don’t act now to rejuvenate our springs, a day may come when we’ll have to buy water like fuel from neighboring states,” he cautioned.

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.

With the state’s water ecosystem under increasing stress, experts and environmentalists are calling for urgent community-driven interventions and sustainable water management strategies.