A panel discussion titled “Wetlands and Rivers for Water Security” was held at Manipur University, organized by the Department of Earth Sciences, INTACH Manipur Chapter, and Apunba Imagi Machasing (AIMS). Notable attendees included Dr RK Ranjan Singh, former Minister of State, and experts from various institutions, including Prof Huidrom Birkumar Singh and Dr RK Chingkhei. The consensus was that Manipur is experiencing severe water insecurity primarily due to human activities such as deforestation, illegal timber trade, and unregulated riverbed sand mining, alongside natural factors like the state’s geomorphology that limits water retention. Climate change is exacerbating the problem.
The panel emphasized the importance of wetlands and rivers in addressing water security and called for comprehensive scientific studies to map vulnerabilities and strengths in local water bodies. Future discussions should focus on specific regions to identify causes of water insecurity and develop mitigation strategies, including dredging. It was advised that governmental policies on river mining, deforestation, and illegal poppy cultivation be reviewed and enforced. Collaboration with government departments is essential for future dialogues, and the study’s findings are to be submitted as official policy recommendations to the Government of Manipur.
