Monsoon in Northeast India was supposed to start on Thursday, but it came earlier two days back with a fury never seen before due to Cyclone Remal originating in the Bay of Bengal. Like the unprecedented hailstorm a few weeks back causing havoc and destroying tin-roofs of several homes and vegetable fields in the valley, nature has once again come to cause devastation in the form of floods.
As it caused landslides and mudslides in the highways and flash floods in the hill districts, most parts of the valley near the major rivers went underwater throwing lives out of gear and displacing thousands. Most of the national highways were cut off by landslides and mudslides. Due to breaches and instances of overflowing at multiple locations along the Imphal River, many areas near the river banks in Heingang, Khurai, Singjamei and Thongju constituencies were flooded and also several areas of Imphal including the historic Kangla Fort and Khwairamband Keithel or the main Imphal market.
During the monsoon the River Nambul which runs through the heart of the city was the main culprit of floods in the Khwairamband area and adjoining areas of Uripok, Sagolband, Keishampat and Keishamthong area. However, the main cause of floods during monsoon in the main market and adjoining areas were because of clogged drains and encroachment in public spaces. Fifty years back, the drains on both sides of the major roads were about 4-6 metres, and in the lanes 2-3 metres and flash floods were virtually unknown in those days.
Come what may, the drains were never clogged and excess water was drained out through the Nambul River and the Naga River which passes through the heart of Imphal. Lamphelpat and Takyelpat were low lying areas where the excess water of Nambul is stored for some time to prevent floods which again drain out after the river level comes down. The narrow and shallow drains with covers coupled with the change in the character of garbage have clogged the drains. In the present instance, the flood in Imphal city was caused by excess water from breaches in the Imphal River which found its way through the Naga River.
These extreme weather events were completely unexpected in the natural order of things, although we had seen rainfall patterns in the last few years. Many choose to interpret these extreme weather events as the impact of climate change happening at the global level. But it is not that simplistic. Yes, in the last decade or so Manipur has felt the impact of climate change and it has led to some state interventions through the Directorate of Environment & Climate Change.
What one must understand is that, climate change is happening everywhere besides the question of how local factors are contributing to it and how we are taking up steps to mitigate the impact. Widespread deforestation and encroaching on reserve and protected forests do not help in any way. Nowadays, jhum cultivation or slash and burn technique of agriculture in the hill areas has somewhat disappeared from public discourse and state agencies are somewhat reconciled to the traditional agricultural practices while certain sections have ventured more into horticulture farming practices.
The only concern now is of widespread devastation of forest areas for poppy cultivation and the defiance to state intervention from certain sections. The practice of clearing vast areas of forest areas for poppy cultivation is going to affect the ecology of the state in both the valley and the hill areas.
