The word “Keisham-Pat” or “Porom-Pat” seems to be a place at Imphal with full urban infrastructures and without any symbols of past existence of waterbodies to the present younger generations. A few lines of the popular song of Manipuri Film, VDF Thasana,
‘Pat ne di hairaga emitsina uba fangdaba pat
Nangdi…iii
Keishampat ni Keishampat
Keishampat ni Keishampat …’
… clearly indicates that the state has lost many wetlands. Keishampat and Porompat are such two notable examples. Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil or is present at or near the surface for part or all of the year. They include marshes, swamps, bogs and floodplains and can be freshwater or saltwater. It is transitional zones between land and water, supporting diverse plant and animal life. Some of the importance of wetlands are biodiversity hotspots, water purification, flood control, climate regulation, groundwater recharge, livelihood and economy, cultural and spiritual significance etc. Some of the wetlands of Manipur are Loktak Pat (lake), Pumlen Pat, Ikop Pat, Waithou Pat, Loushi Pat, Khoidum Pat, Yaral Pat, Utra Pat, Kharung Pat etc. Many wetlands in Manipur are not just ecological treasures but also cultural and economic lifelines of the local communities. Many experts opined that wetlands of Manipur are experiencing significant ecological challenges due to rapid urbanization, population growth and climate change. However, they are under the threat from pollution, encroachment and climate change. These factors have led to the shrinkage and degradation of wetlands, adversely affecting their ecological balance and the economy and socio-cultural practices of the local communities.
In an exclusive interview with Dr. Khangembam Shamugou, Chairman Technical Committee, Manipur State Wetland Authority mentioned that according to National Wetland Atlas (India) report 2010, Manipur has around 160 wetlands. As per the latest report of 2020-21 the state has 132 wetlands. In 2010 out of the total geographical area of Manipur, around 2.3 percent are wetland area. As per the record of Manipur Remote Sensing Application Centre report 2020, 119 wetlands have been identified in the state.
With the aim of rejuvenating and conservation of wetlands, Manipur State Wetland Authority was formed in 2018 with two committee namely Technical Committee and Grievance Committee under National Wetland Management Rule 2017. On the basis of priority such as flood, biodiversity, human relation, culture, economic parameters, 23 site out of 119 were selected for conservation and rejuvenation. Some of these are Loktak Pat (lake), Thoubal, Waithou Phumnom Pat, Ikop Pat, Karung, Kharung Pat, Pumlen Pat, Yaral Pat and Utra Pat, Jaimeng and Kachouphung etc. Further seven important sites are identified by Manipur State Wetland Authority. They are Yaral Pat, Waithou Phumnom, Ikop Karung, Pumlen Khoidum, Utrapat, Jaimeng and Kachouphung. Among these seven, now four sites have been approved for rejuvenation at national level by Wetland Authority of India. The four sites are Yaral Pat, Waithou Pat, Utra Pat and Jaimeng. Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Northeastern India which is famous for its unique floating phumdis was designated as a ‘Ramsar site’in 1990.
Dr. Shamungou expressed that there were plenty of wetlands or water bodies in Manipur in the past. It is said that till 1950s there were around 500 wetlands in Manipur. Due to increase in human population, expansion of developmental activities, rapid urbanization, climate change and other human activities, number of wetlands have been decreased. Some lake such as Keishampat, Porompat, Takyelpat, etc remained just only name and they have vanished. Due to climate change, the nature cycle or the hydrological cycle has changed drastically resulting in the decrease or increase of water level of the wetlands disturbing the ecological system of the wetland. Around 35 rivers including major rivers, rivulets and streams of the valley flow directly into the Loktak Lake which is a Ramsar site. Almost all the rivers of the valley except Manipur River and Imphal River flow directly into Loktak Lake. All these rivers have originated from the nearby hills. Due to deforestation in the hills and other factors with little rainfall, the rivers flow carrying stone, sand, mud, branches of trees, plants into the lake. For the last 5 to 10 years with reduced rainfall due to climate change the Loktak Lake could not recharge its maximum water level decreasing its water volume.
There was a legend that not a single sand of Thongjaorok River flows into Loktak Lake and not a single fish of Loktak Lake migrates to Thonjaorok River. This legend which was once believed to be true has now proven as false. Now Thongjaorok River is the main river that cause siltation of Loktak Lake as it carried down maximum of sand, pebbles, snags and clay etc. thus disturbing the nature system of Loktak. Plastic waste is another factor for exploitation of Loktak Lake. Some of the main rivers for this are Nambul, Nambol and Moirang Rivers.
Mentioning about the impact on plants and animals due to deterioration of wetlands, Dr. Shamugou said that almost all plants species that once grown in wetland area are extinct. In the past varieties of aquatic plant such as Heikrak (Water chestnuts), Tharo (Lily), Thambal (Lotus), Thangjing (Fox nuts) etc. were grown abundantly in the wetland areas. It helped the local communities financially supporting the family by selling the different parts of the plants. Indigenous fishes such as Pengba-tharak, Ngaton, Khabak, Nganoi, Sareng, Ngaten, Ngakra, Ngamu, Porong etc. which were once found in huge amount in the wetlands is now hard to find even a species. Even it is hard to find Ngakrijout hese days. These native plants ,and animals have been replaced by exotic fishes. Edible insects such as Noushek which is considered as a delicious item of the cuisine – Ironba, is almost disappearing. The decreasing in the number of plants and animals species due to the loss of wetlands has created a great threat to the culture and economy of the people of the state, he added. The deteriorating condition of the ecological system of Keibul Lamjao Wetland is also a threat to Sangai, the state animal of Manipur. The two varieties of grass that grow in Keibul Lamjao is directly related with the survival of Sangai. The taller grass is for their protection and shelter and the shorter one for their fodder. Both the grasses need to be in the right proportion. But now this ratio is imbalance. In some year the taller grass grow more and in some year the short grass grow more. The disturbance in the natural ecosystem of Keibul Lamjao Wetland results in decreasing number of Sangai. So, with the deteriorating condition in the diversity of wetland it disturbs the relations between wetland and human, culture, survival, biodiversity, communication, underground water maintenance, carbon shrink etc. Dr. Shamugou appealed everyone to take part in the conservation of Wetland for a better future.
On this year’s World Wetlands day (2nd February) India has added four new Wetlands to the Ramsar List of International Importance. The country has now 89 of these sites. With this India is one of the most Ramsar sites in Asia and third highest number of such sites in the World. In India, Tamil Nadu has the most number of Ramsar sites with twenty in number. The four new Ramsar sites are Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary and Therthangal Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, Khecheopalri Wetland in Sikkim and Udhwa Lake in Jharkhand. This marked a significant milestone for Sikkim and Jharkhand as the two states had secured their first ever Ramsar sites. The Ramsar Convention is an international agreement from 1971 that aims to protect wetlands worldwide as these areas are vital for keeping plants and animals healthy and ensuring future water resources. The big question here lies is – Are the Ramsar sites fully protected or not? Or Is it only in the list for namesake? It is the responsibility of everyone to conserve and rejuvenate the wetlands. The necessity for this approach need to make aware from the grass root level. It is also important to integrate more on wetlands conservation into school, college and university syllabus and curriculum to ensure long term awareness. Here lies the pressing need for a collective responsibility for conservation and rejuvenation of Wetlands in Manipur for maintaining ecological balance, protect local communities and ensure long-term sustainability.
(The article is filed under the 5th State Level Media Fellowship Programme on Climate Change under the sponsorship of Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Manipur.)
