Manipur launches rejuvenation and conservation of Nambul river

Our Correspondent

Imphal, March 9 (EMN): In a move to prevent pollution of rivers, Manipur government on Saturday launched the state’s first ever rejuvenation and conservation of Nambul river in Imphal under National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of India. NRCP is a centrally funded scheme launched in 1995 aimed at preventing the pollution of rivers.

Launching the project in presence of ministers, MLAs and officials at CM’s Secretariat in Imphal, Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh said that saving and protecting Nambul from pollution is one of the main factors in protecting Loktak which is the pride of the state.

Besides this project, he said the government also sent proposals for eight other rivers.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CBCB) has identified Nambul river which originates from Kangchup hills as one of the most polluted rivers in the state and also being a major source of polluting Loktak lake, the only largest fresh water lake in Northeast and also a Ramsar site of International Importance.

Terming it was a “dream project,” Biren said the newly launched project was planned and conceptualised when he was state minister of environment and forest (Independent in charge) during the Congress regime in 2004.

The three-year project which plans to control pollution of river water quality by intercepting and treating all the urban waste water outfalls from the polluted stretch (Iroisemba to Heirangoithong) of the river by using latest technology for water treatment plant known as MBBR (Moving Bed Bio Reactor) at Mongsangei and Samushang in the outskirt of Imphal will be implemented by the Directorate of Environment in consultation with concerned departments, deputy director of Environment department, T Brajakumar said.

He also mentioned that 56 eco-friendly crematoria and 20 toilets complexes would be constructed across 14 Municipality wards along the river which originates from Kangchup hills and flows to Loktak lake.

India has lost 90% of its major surface water sources due to pollution and encroachment, according to Centre for Science and Environment’s State of India’s Environment report 2019. Of India’s 29