Despite the ban on single-use plastic and plastic water bottles of less than 1 liter capacity, huge amounts of used single-use plastic bottles and other plastic waste items are causing a reduction in the free flow of river water.
People should remove the habit of dumping waste materials, especially used plastic bottles, at river banks as it could become a major factor preventing river water flow, leading to floods in valley areas, said development officer of the Department of Environment and Climate Change, Manipur Thaonaojam Alexander.
With the incessant rainfall since July 1 in many parts of Manipur, the water level of most major rivers flowing through Imphal Valley is rising above the high flood level. In the previous flood caused by the impact of Cyclone Remal, a huge number of used plastic bottles and other plastic waste items were seen blocking the flow of rivers, mostly in Nambul River, Alexander said.
Nambul River passes through the heart of Imphal city and is considered one of the most polluted rivers in the state. The river also passes through the congested Khwairamband Market area where most waste is found disposed of on its river bank. After meeting ‘Naga Nullah,’ the river continues its course towards Loktak Lake.
With the flood occurring in the state due to the impact of southwest monsoon rain and incessant rainfall, many major rivers including Nambul, Imphal, and Iril are found to overflow and breach their banks, leading to many houses being inundated in parts of Imphal East and West.
The state, facing its second flood, also found huge amounts of used plastic bottles and other plastic items obstructing the flow of the Imphal River at Salanthong, Imphal East.
Thaonaojam Alexander said the government has been raising awareness among the public to avoid disposing of waste on river banks, but many still dump waste. The tons of used plastic blocking the flow of the Imphal River at Salanthong is an example that people need more awareness, he said.
He appealed to the people to develop the habit of disposing of waste in proper places to keep the surroundings clean.
Responding to Imphal Free Press, Alexander said earlier the department had collected around 30 truckloads of used plastic bottles from Nambul River stretch during the earlier flood caused by the impact of Cyclone Remal. This might be the reason less overflow along Nambul River is reported in the present flood.
To avoid disturbances in water flow in Imphal River, the department is taking the initiative of cleaning and collecting the used water bottles and other plastic items that are stuck along the river course, he added.
Alexander further said the department will continue surveying along the Imphal River stretch to remove other pollutants that could disturb its flow. A similar survey will also continue for Iril River, he added.
