Imphal: Civil society organisations have appealed to Manipur governor for urgent action to tackle the state’s recurring floods, calling for a Comprehensive Riverbank Strengthening and Flood Management Project.
The plea was made through memorandum submitted by the Khurai Pana Apunba Singlup and the Co-ordinating Body.
They expressed concern over the increasing vulnerability of the Imphal Valley to floods caused by encroachment along riverbanks, deforestation, and watershed degradation. They noted that Imphal, Nambul, Thoubal, and Iril rivers have been experiencing frequent overflows during monsoon seasons, leading to embankment breaches, displacement of communities, destruction of agricultural land and widespread damage to property.
The proposal recommends acquiring a 40-foot-wide strip of land along both banks of major rivers to establish permanent buffer zones and prevent further encroachment. It further calls for the construction of reinforced cement concrete or masonry retaining walls outside the river stream and beyond existing street alignments in order to reinforce embankments while ensuring the natural flow of rivers remains undisturbed.
The groups also stressed the importance of ecological restoration. They suggested reforestation and afforestation drives, along with catchment area treatment, to address the effects of deforestation and surface runoff.
To ensure long-term stability, the memorandum emphasised the need for sub-drainage systems, gabion structures, and vegetative cover. They also proposed that the project integrate community amenities such as service lanes, pathways, and green belts above the retaining walls, blending flood protection with social and environmental benefits.
The technical features of the project would include retaining walls between three to six metres in height, built with reinforced cement concrete or stone masonry depending on soil strata. These structures would be supplemented by protective works such as toe protection, pitching, gabion structures, and turfing to strengthen the riverbanks further, they said.
The civil bodies recommended detailed hydrological and geotechnical surveys, fair land acquisition with compensation and rehabilitation, and construction by specialised contractors under the supervision of state departments. They highlighted the importance of integrating watershed management, plantation drives, and community involvement in monitoring and maintenance.
Both the civil bodies urged the governor to take immediate steps to consider the proposal in the interest of protecting lives, property, and the environment in Manipur.
