Three months after its launch, Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh accompanied by ministers and officials on Friday inspected the ongoing work at one of his ambitious project to prevent pollution in Nambul River in and around Imphal.
The project called ‘Rejuvenation and Conservation of Nambul River’ which aims at controlling pollution of the Nambul river by intercepting and treating urban waste originating in the stretch between Iroisemba and Heirangoithong through use of the water treatment plant, MBBR (Moving Bed Bio Reactor), at Mongsangei and Samushang, was launched at the chief minister’s Secretariat in Imphal on March 9 last.
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The Directorate of Environment government of Manipur is implementing the Rs 97.72-crore project under the National River Conservation Plan of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, along with four other state government departments namely urban development, water resources, public health engineering and state pollution control board with a phase wise targets in three years time.
Speaking to media persons at Nakraba Leirak bridge near Khagempali junction, Chief Minister also expressed the need to look into the Naga River or ‘nullah’ factor in making Nambul a clean river.
For this he appealed to the residents living along the Naga river stretch in Imphal to help in achieving the government’s initiative.
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Encouraging the local clubs and organizations to join the door to door garbage collection initiated by the Imphal Municipal Corporation and concerned NGOs, he said such an initiative would save the river from pollution and subsequently will help in conserving Loktak Lake, the pride of the State.
The day’s inspection began from Wahengbam leikai and moved towards Keishampat, Keishamthong and Nakraba Leirak bridge.
Health minister L jayentakumar, revenue minister K Shyam, agriculture minister V Hangkhalian,MLA Ksh Biren, chief secretary Dr Suresh Babu, DGP Manipur LM Khaute, additional chief secretary Suhel Akhtar, Director Dr Y Nabachandra of Environment department, deputy director Dr T Brajakumar, Director Harilkumar of Urban development also present in the day’s chief minister’s inspection tour.
The Central Pollution Control Board had identified Nambul river which originates from Kangchup hills as one of the most polluted rivers in the state and also being a major source of polluting Loktak lake, the only largest fresh water lake in Northeast and also a Ramsar site of International Importance.
It may be mentioned that the ongoing ‘Rejuvenation and Conservation of Nambul River’ project was planned and conceptualized when Biren was state minister of environment and forest (Independent in charge) during the Congress regime in 2004.