Dzükou valley, surrounded by Japfü Range, Paona Range and northern mountains of Manipur together form a mighty fortress of rocks, forest ecosystems and invaluable wildlife.
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Our Dzükou valley, surrounded by Japfü Range, Paona Range and northern mountains of the neighbouring state of Manipur together form a mighty fortress of rocks, forest ecosystems and invaluable wildlife. This natural fortification is the Water Tower of Southern Nagaland and northern Manipur to a certain extent. It is the source of most rivers flowing in Kohima, Chumoukedima and Peren districts of Nagaland which further flow into the neighbouring districts and into the plains of Nagaland, Manipur and Assam. The forests, soil and rocks in these mountains form an intricate water supply system and act as our natural water reservoirs.
Every monsoon, these forests act as a rain magnet by creating low pressure zones in the atmosphere, pulling in heavy rain clouds floating northward from the Bay of Bengal. This means that more forest attracts more rain and less forest causes less rain. Overall, a tree roughly comprises 50% of water. This implies that approximately half of our forest composition is water. The rain that falls over our forests are soaked in by the soil and flows underground through networks of cracks and conduits in the rocks and transmit water to springs and wells that are in the vicinity or situated hundreds of kilometers away. This system feeds and recharges the groundwater, springs and rivers throughout the year. Moreover, the peat soil that covers the floor of Dzükou valley and our forests act like a giant sponge, soaking and storing large volumes of water. This is why it is also important to protect the soil cover along with conservation of our precious forests.
Over the decades, this once impenetrable fort of virgin forests has been degenerating rapidly under the weight and pressure of deforestation, forest fires, haphazard road and building constructions, quarrying, jhum cultivation, tourism, extraction of forest peat, foraging of wild flowers and edible leaves, etc. Along with the global scenario of climate change, all our local anthropogenic activities have aided in the disruption of rainfall patterns in the region which, needless to say is visible every monsoon. We have flashfloods every year which was unheard of in these parts until maybe a decade ago. The monsoon rains are erratic and more intense.
A consequential impact of the rapid destruction of our Water Tower is seen in the acute water shortage that impairs life in Kohima as and when the dry season sets in. Deterioration of ground water quality and lowering of water table are other issues. Mostly, it is to be blamed on the lack of vision, organisation and execution of plans on the part of the state machinery. Today, Kohima is tangled in a labyrinth of plastic pipes which delivers private water supply to many households. The current scenario of unplanned private water supply is unsustainable in the long run, and will not be able to meet the future demands of the state capital. I am hopeful that the Government will someday develop a vision to take up the challenge to properly implement plans to streamline the water distribution system. Additionally, the neighbouring villages and communities should also begin proper planning to lay down pipelines without which our villages will also suffer from the same fate. But before anything, if we do not protect the source of our water, where will the water come from?
Every new trend, whether good or bad that arises in the urbanised centres of Kohima slowly spreads and infects the adjoining villages. For instance, most villages in the surrounding of our water tower enjoy the luxury of flowing water even during the driest time of the year. In the past few years, some of these villages have felt short insignificant pulses of water shortage. Many perennial springs in the terrace fields continue to run dry during the arid season. If measures for forest conservation are not done immediately, water scarcity will soon affect the villages at the foot of the water tower, too.
We take pride in the burgeoning tourism industry of our state. The masses are drawn to the forests, terrace fields and natural beauty of our land. And to make tourism a success in our state, we need to keep our forests intact. Proper water supply in our towns and villages is an utmost necessity to sustain the tourism industry of our state.
Our people have randomly constructed roads into the hearts of our forests to display our pride and ownership of the land, making our jhum fields and forests easily accessible. Will it not be foolish of us if we do not have dignity and show love for our land by taking measures to protect the forests that our roads have penetrated mercilessly? Will it not be visionless of us if we destroy our forests and deprive our future generations of clean drinking water?
A jhum field can be reforested but it will be tougher to reforest a place where a human settlement has cropped up. It is a plea to the villages and social organisations around the Japfü and Paona ranges to strictly demarcate a line beyond which construction of human settlements is restricted. This will surely prevent the forest cover from irreversible destruction. Despite the state being under Article 371A, it is a pressing need for the Government, to proactively consider making rules for management of opening and closure of quarrying activities in the region. This is because quarrying activities damage the forests and underground water system. Besides this, the Government, villages and social organisation throughout the state needs to remind and motivate each other to protect the forest cover from further decimation and identify forest corridors for migration of wildlife within the state. This will also be a solution to solve multiple environmental issues.
Many villages around our water tower have made commendable efforts and made rules to conserve the forests around them. But we still require critical and stringent implementation of rules, proper planning of water supply and distribution infrastructures. If we conserve our forest, we have ample water resource to sustain our population. Public responsibility and government execution is vital to bring change and ensure that our children will avail clean and abundant drinking water in the future.
Dr. Alono Thorie,
CoEES,
Oil India Limited.