Heavy fuel oil (HFO) in rivers is of great concern which possesses a significant threat to human health and communities. The issue arises from the discharge of industrials and shipping wastes often containing dense oils into water bodies. The consequences extend beyond immediate environmental concerns to profound implications for human well-being. The discharge of heavy fuel into rivers contributes to water pollution, disrupting aquatic ecosystems and endangering various species. Moreover, the presence of heavy fuel in rivers affects water quality rendering it unfit for consumption and domestic use. Communities especially the women who rely on this contaminated water face many hurdles to get water for daily consumption.
The incident of Heavy fuel spillage from Leimakhong Power Station occurred on January 10, 2024. The heavy fuel from Leimakhong Power Station discharged into Khanglapokpi Khong or Makha Loukhong. Makha Loukhong flows into larger rivers such as Sekmai River and Nambul River. The flow of spilled heavy fuel was diverted into the adjoining paddy fields which prevented contaminantion into the main Luwangli River and Leimakhong River. The Luwangli River flows into the Nambul River at Taothong-Iroishemba and Leimakhong River flows into the Imphal River at Nilakuthi. After the incident people have stopped using the water from the rivers or streams which add big troublesome for the villagers particularly women to get water from other sources.
On interacting with many women folks of Kanto Sabal and Sabal Keingam of Manipur’s Imphal West district, they narrated their worries and tensions about the contaminated water in the stream. They stopped using the water after the incident. Moreover, the tap water supply was cut off for the last nine months since the eruption of violent conflict between Kuki militants and Meiteis from May 3 last year. Since then, the villagers faced water scarcity as there are no other water sources rather than the Makha Loukhong stream. After the incident of oil spilling into the stream people of the locality faced many hardships in getting water. The womenfolk of Sabal Keingam used to fetch water for drinking purposes from the well of neighbouring villages. For other purposes they used water from a small pond near the crematorium which they never used before. They used maximum time and energy to fetch water from this pond which is in impure form. They even started facing many health problems due to frequent drawing and carrying of water. Maximum of the villages could not afford package drinking water available in the market. As of now they considered water as the most precious element for their lives. Even a single drop of water is of great valued to them. Nowadays the villagers started re-using water in various forms. For instance, the left-out water after cleaning utensils is reused for moping the floor and kitchen gardening.
Mentioning about the water quality, Dr. T. Brajakumar, Director, Environment and Climate Change, Manipur says that the Department is analyzing the oil and grease contain from the next day of the incident. Now, it is found that the percentage of oil and grease contain has been reduced to (80-90) percent. Because of the less quantity of oil spill, immediate diversions and other local measures prevent from great danger. However, it is too early now to predict post environmental impact. It will take some more months as it needs more tests. Providing scientifically proved information through awareness programmes to the local communities and the public will help in rectifying their false belief and fallacy. It will also help in shaping a positive perception of the local people, he added.
Media reports that there is minimal presence of effluent and oil contamination in minor channels at Khanglapokpi, according to the reports of NIT, Manipur, experts investigating water after the Leimakhong power station oil spill. The NIT report reveals that Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) at the upstream, diversion point and downstream at Khanglapokpi indicates minimal presence of effluents and oil contamination in the minor channels. The PH values of these three points suggested the ability of the stream to dilute at downstream. The water still needs to be tested further for toxicity and other related carbon compounds. The report further mentions that traces of oil effluent could be observed in small contents at the confluence point of the Khanglapokpi Khong and other minor drainage channels in Leimakhong and Khurkhul and further down to Luwangli stream. Dr. Ngangbam Romeji, Associate Professor (Hydrology and Hydraulics) Department of Civil Engineering, NIT, Manipur who is a part of the expert committee pointed out some alternative solutions to get water for the villagers are – mechanism to supply water from Leimakhong River, to construct wells after proper hydro-geological investigation according to the per capita water demand, and to harvest rain water in the monsoon seasons. He also mentioned that due to climate change the amount of rainfall in the state is reducing. Since 2017 flood, there is no more floods in the state till date. It indicates less rainfall in the state of Manipur. If there was maximum rainfall in the state the villagers might not face such volume of water scarcity problems as the villagers are facing now. He appealed to the people to preserve and consume water judiciously.
Locals feared that the oil spill is likely to have an adverse impact on the agricultural activities due to contaminated soil besides damaging the flora and fauna of the area. In this regards, Dr. Tensubam Basanta Singh, Scientist, Soil Science, ICAR, Lamphelpat, Manipur says that soil is considered as a living entity because of its importance and presence of many micro-organisms. In Manipur the biggest threat to the soil is the presence of pollutants in the soil by excessive use of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers etc. It needs to be used judiciously to reduce the harmful effect to humans. If the streams form oil layer after the recent Leimakhong oil spill incident there are possibilities of death of aquatic lives such as fishes due to lack of oxygen in the contaminated water. Once the soil is polluted, normally it takes some decades to regain its original form. Dr Basanta added that the paddy fields with contaminated water may affect the agricultural practices for two to three years. The contaminated water will change the chemical, biological and physical properties of the soil. In this context, Dr Basanta suggests some immediate solutions- to scrub out the top layer of the soil and mixed compose with the sub-soil and try for a new cultivation, application of oil degradation mechanism using phytoremediation measures by planting locally available hydrocarbon tolerant plants for (1 to 2) years without consumption, addition of soil microbes that can degrade hydrocarbons such as Bacillus, Arthobacter, Streptomyces, Verticillium etc. to the soil with recommended doses after consulting with the experts.
The State government has constituted a High-level Special Investigation Team (SIT) to find out how the oil spill into the stream. Authorities has taken up many measures to separate the heavy fuel and residues from the streams by using oil absorbent pads, booms, shocks, pillows etc.(engaging expert team from OSCT, Mumbai). The cleansing work is underway. It needs more action to safeguard water quality and protect the ecosystems that sustain life. Moreover, it requires a mechanism to arrange an alternative source of water for the villagers who depend on it. It will also lift the burden faced by villagers especially the women ingetting water. Failure to address this problem not only jeopardizes the health of communities dependent on these water sources but also undermines the integrity of our shared environment.
(This article is filed under the 4th State Level Media Fellowship Programme on Climate Change under the sponsorship of Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Manipur.)
