IT News
Imphal, Dec 06:
A student body of Manipur called Apunba Imagi Machasing (AIMS) had submitted memorandum to the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal urging him to rejuvenate Ancient Inland Waterways in Manipur.
The memorandum stated that the riverine systems of Manipur fall into two major river systems. The first being the Irrawaddy River Drainage system, where water flowing through the rivers of Manipur falls first into the Ningthi Turel (Chindwin River) and thereafter into the Irrawaddy River before discharging into the Bay of Bengal. The second is the Ganga River Drainage system, whereby all rivers flowing West of the Koubru Range discharges themselves into the Barak River before joining the Ganges in Bangladesh before emptying themselves into the Bay of Bengal. It forms three different drainage systems, i.e., Barak, Manipur and Ningthi (Chindwin). The Barak River system is further sub-divided into six basins, namely i) Barak- Jiri basin, ii) Tuivai basin, iii) Marku river basin, iv) Barak basin, v) Irang basin, and vi) Leimatak Basin. The Manipur River system is also further sub-divided into four sub-basins. They are i) Imphal basin, ii) Iril basin, iii) Thoubal basin, and iv) Khuga basin. The Ningthi Turel (Chindwin River) system includes i) Tuijang, ii) Taret and iii) Maklang river basins.
The drainage to the north finds its way to the Brahmaputra through the Dhansiri river. Whether passing through the central plain or the eastern hills, the rivers flowing to the south are tributaries of Ningthi (Chindwin) in upper Burma. The Tuvai River joins the Barak River at Tipaimukh in the south-western corner of Manipur, and subsequently, it enters northward, forming the boundary of Mizoram and Manipur and then Cachar plain of Assam, and after crossing the low hills of the Bhuban range, it further flows into Assam and Sylhet (in Bangladesh). It falls on the old bed of Brahmaputra near Bhairab Bazar. The rivers of Manipur, draining into Ningthi (Chindwin)-Irrawaddy system, carry the drainage of the eastern half of the state, including the central plain. It is further sub-divided into the easterly and the westerly streams. It flows roughly north-south, passing through Mao, Ukhrul, Tengnoupal, Laimaton hills. The Imphal river flows the eastern half of Manipur, including the central plain. The main tributaries of Imphal are Iril, Thoubal, Khuga, Sekmai, Nambol, Nambul. Loktak Lake and other associated lakes form the water resources of the central valley. The Iril river meets with the Imphal river at Lilong. The Thoubal river also joins with the Imphal river at Irong. It merges with Loktak Lake and further flows down in the name of Manipur River. The Manipur River does not fall into the Loktak lake; instead, it receives its excess water. After crossing the Manipur border, it flows into the Chin Hills of Myanmar by cutting a deep gorge to the south of Sugnu town, and it joins with Myitha, a tributary of the river Ningthi (Chindwin) and finally meets with the Irrawaddy River. The Khuga river is a north-flowing tributary of the Manipur River. The Khuga meets her south of Loktak Lake. The eastern slopes of the Manipur eastern hills are washed by several small streams of Ningthi (Chindwin) system. River Akonglok (Lanier/Laniye river which originates near Ukhrul) and its tributaries – Chamu and Chingai, and Yu rivesr and its tributaries – Maklang, Tuyungbi, Taret Lok, Lokchao, Lailimlok and Tuiyang flowing in subparallel pattern through their steeply cut valleys, finally join the Ningthi Turel (Chindwin River) in Kabaw Valley in Myanmar. These swift-flowing rivers and streams of the state, associated with waterfalls and springs in the hills, and lakes and marshes in the valley, have economic importance for the agricultural and industrial growth of Manipur. There are many lakes in Manipur valley beside swamps and marshes along the lakeside and in the inter-riverine tracts. Loktakpat, Pumlenpat, Kharungpat, Ikoppat and Waithoupat, etc. are important lakes.
The memorandum further said that Imphal river emptied itself into the Loktak Lake was once famous for its inland waterway in Manipur.
“It is well documented in the Tutenglon Puya, an archaic Manipuri manuscript to study the science of water management. Inland waterway was the cheapest mode of transport and more comfortable. People used the river to reach the Imphal market from different directions through boats. We usually were transported Bamboo and wood through inland waterways”, the memorandum said.
It further added that in the history of Manipur, we can find the ferries between Imphal to Loktak, Dhansiri river to the Brahmaputra, Maklang River to Imphal River, Tipaimuk to Jiribam to Silchar up to Bangladesh through Barak River. There is a history of ferrying from Laktak lake up to Mandalay in Myanmar and from Mandalay, connecting all Southeast Asian countries.
The student body urged the Union Minister for rejuvenation of ancient inland waterways in Manipur.
Revival of inland waterways can preserve many wetlands, lakes from the verge of extinction. Not only it can control the water crises in Manipur, but also it will be a safety valve to prevent flooding and drought in Manipur, the memorandum added.
