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N Biren Singh inspects the ongoing project ‘Rejuvenation and Conservation of Nambul River’ work in Nambul River in Imaphal on Friday.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Imphal, June 21 (EMN): Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh accompanied by ministers and officials on Friday inspected the ongoing project ‘Rejuvenation and Conservation of Nambul River’ work in Nambul River in Imphal.
The project aims at controlling pollution of the Nambul river by intercepting and treating urban waste originating in the stretch between Iroisemba and Heirangoithong through use of the water treatment plant, MBBR (Moving Bed Bio Reactor), at Mongsangei and Samushang, was launched at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Imphal on March 9.
The Directorate of Environment is implementing INR 97.72 crore project under the National River Conservation Plan of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, along with Urban Development, Water Resources, Public Health Engineering and Pollution Control Board departments with phase-wise targets in three years time.
Fifty four eco-friendly crematoria and 20 toilets complexes would be constructed across 14 Municipality wards along the said project site of the river which originates from Kangchup hills and flows to Loktak Lake.
Speaking to the reporters at Nakraba Leirak bridge, the chief minister expressed the need look into the Naga River or nullah factor in making Nambul a clean river. For this, he appealed the residents to help in achieving the government’s initiative.
Encouraging the local clubs and organisations to join door to door garbage collection initiated by the Imphal Municipal Corporation and NGOs, he said such an initiative would save the river from pollution and subsequently will help in conserving Loktak Lake.
Singh also inspected Wahengbam leikai and Keishampat, Keishamthong and Nakraba Leirak bridge.
The Central Pollution Control Board(CPCB) had 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.
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 states and 7 union territories, 27 have critically polluted river stretches, says the CPCB 2018 report which identifies 351 polluted river stretches on 323 rivers in India.