Manipur witnesses change in rainfall pattern

Our Correspondent Imphal, Aug. 5 (EMN): The rainfall pattern has changed in Manipur. The region which started to receive deficient rain during monsoon has begun to get more rain during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods and it is greatly affecting the agricultural practices, said Environment Deputy Director T Brajakumar. “We have been observing this as per the rainfall data available here. There is a deficit of 18 per cent rainfall in the last two months (June and July),” he said. Brajakumar was delivering a presentation at a brainstorming interaction on ‘Spring rejuvenation and underground water recharge in Manipur’ held under the aegis of the Directorate of Environment here on Saturday. Stating that the state is losing around 66% rainfall as of now, he said Ukhrul district is getting less rainfall this time and subsequently it is affecting its usual agricultural practices. Expressing the need to address the issues of water resources, agriculture, forest, etc., based on the vulnerability assessment, he informed that 1,384 out of 2,111 villages in Manipur’s five hill districts depend on spring water for sustenance. But these springs are now drying up due to deforestation, increasing water demand, changing rainfall and land use patterns. Echoing the similar feeling, Additional chief engineer L Swamikanta of the public health engineering department who has travelled the length and breadth of Manipur also expressed the need of IEC in villages.