The Manipur government had recently ordered to remove all illegal, unauthorised structures constructed on Government Khas lands and state lands adjoining the National Highways, state highways, inter village Roads (IVRs), river banks and drains latest by last second week of July. That such unauthorised structures create a variety of inconveniences to the general public is known to all. Even government officials tasked with monitoring such activities know it. The only thing lacking was a political will on the part of the government to act and deal with it.
Maybe, the recent spate of floodings in Imphal area had awakened the state government and it had ordered widespread eviction of unauthorised structures and illegal encroachment on public land. Imphal and surrounding areas have seen floods twice in recent times and monsoon season is just starting. Here, we find it pertinent to talk about the drainage system of Imphal in the past. Fifty years back, the drains on both sides of the major roads were about 3-5 metres, and in the lanes 1-2 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. Other rivers also have such temporary depositories. In recent times, the government has been reclaimed by the Pats for building housing colonies and other structures and the basic purpose of such low lying areas has been defeated. And the width and depth of the drains on main roads and lanes has been greatly reduced.
For main roads, the width of the roadside drains have been reduced to one metre with a depth of one metre while that of the drains in lanes to one and half feet. One may say that, in the olden days the main roads and lanes were narrow, and that most parts of the drains had to be filled up for creating wider roads and lanes. The narrow and shallow drains with covers coupled with the change in the character of garbage have clogged the drains.
In olden times, every family has a soak pit called ‘Lukhaak-kom’ where kitchen waste and other waste materials are dumped and since most of the waste materials are biodegradable they became natural fertilizers in time for the kitchen gardens. However, due to population pressure most of the Lukhaak-koms have vanished from urban areas and again the character of waste material has changed with the coming of plastic bottles, wrappers, bags and various disposable items.
A major waste material which stands out in present times is plastic wrappers, bottles big and small, and other non-degradable items. The city administration had in recent times introduced garbage collection by private parties. But, the tragedy is that there is no segregation of waste between biodegradable and non-degradable items. As the drains are mostly covered, there is practically no hope of daily maintenance by any concerned citizen. So, considering the increase in population and changing nature of waste material, it is necessary to widen the drains.
Besides that, the administration needs to go all out against people who encroach upon public drains either by extension of their building structures or by piling construction materials. As a short-term measure, the administration needs to clear the encroachment. In the long-term, a drainage system covering the whole of Imphal where the drains beside main roads and in the leikai roads are widened, is needed. For that it is required of the government to ask people to part with portions of their land or by invoking the Land Acquisition Act.
Most landowners do not want part with even an inch of their land while on the other hand they would always think of any means to encroach upon public land or drain to gain even an inch. Such is the way of the world. That is exactly where political will comes in to streamline the drainage system of Imphal. Anyway, let us hope for the best.
