Need For A Comprehensive Drainage Plan
With the burgeoning population compounded by the complete absence of a proper planning and waste management, drainage systems in the state have been witnessing what ought not to. Encroaching every single possible inch of available land, disappearance of nullahs, non-clearance of domestic wastes, rains playing havoc at different intervals, etc., are some of the focal issues that require introspection to see some improvement on the drainage front.
In fact, there should a special man in power to look into these issues on a regular basis for cleanliness is the call of the day.
In other words, we need to have a special portfolio in the ministerial council of the popular government to look into these matters with some sincerity.
Every time, we have rains, how brief or long, the low-level- areas suffer from a semi-permanent flood. This is a peculiar sight in many parts of the valley. While denudation of the hills is being attributed as the chief. reason for the rivers becoming shallower, it is the complete absence of a waste management program in the state that has contributed to the halt of water movements in the valley.
Almost all the thickly populated pockets in the valley, primarily in the urban areas, call for a fresh, a completely new facelift on the drainage front to improve the movement of water, free and natural flow of excess water. This would demand a strong political will of the people. People appreciate every move to broaden the main roads and lanes. Similar appreciation should also come when there is a move to broaden the nullahs and increase the volumes of the drainage systems. It is never late. There is always a time to start a move.
The existence of PDA, MAHUD, IFCD, etc., should justify their existence and a fresh networking among themselves should show the people some
hope. There are visionaries, planners, engineers, architects, pragmatic thinkers and wise public leaders amidst us. Their expertise must be explored and heard, given a serious introspection to reduce the hazards being created by the halt of water movement and domestic wastes.
If planting more trees were one of the popular slogans today, management of domestic waste products would definitely lend a helping hand to supply manure to the growth of trees.
Drainage system is definitely not a short-term program. It requires expertise more than the political will. Therefore, keeping in view the increasing population and the unplanned growth of the urban areas compounded by lack of a planned drainage system, there has to be an initiative now.
The government should have a strong and
a committed legislation to protect land for a comprehensive drainage system. Although such a plan might invite mordant criticism from the affected parties, something has to be done lest the 'nullahs would start overflowing into our own courtyards someday.
(Courtesy: The Manipur Mail) |
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