Our Correspondent
IMPHAL, March 22
In a move to save the dying rivers, a group of youths in Imphal who work in diverse field took up a bold step by staging a small but consequential campaign by riding their bicycles while people are observing World Water Day (WWD) on Sunday. The young generation, under the banner of Leipungwa Entertainment, a Manipur based event management group, is trying to spread the awareness on the continuous threat encountered by Imphal river in particular with the sudden population explosion in state capital.Interestingly the day’s event coincides with the World Water Day (WWD) observation across the globe with the United Nations theme “Water and Sustainable Development” as water is directly connected with the energy, environment, food, disaster etc in the human history.
Carrying play cards which read ‘skip plastic bags’, ‘make your own garbage’, ’save the river, ’clean river bank, ’don’t blame the government’ etc in their bicycles, the youths took a ride on the river banks of Imphal and Nambul to spread the awareness on conserving the dying rivers.
After the cycle rally was flagged off from the Singjamei Thokchom Leikai around 10am, they cycled through important streets of Imphal including Secretariat road, Kangla moat way side, Bir Tikendrajit road, Wahengbam Leikai, Keishampat, Keishamthong, Elangbam Leikai, Pishumthong, Haobam Marak, Heirangoithong,Chingamakha,Singjamei Chingamakhong and converged at the starting point.
Though both Nambul and Imphal Rivers which passes through the main town areas are rain-fed seasonal small rivers, they are life saving water bodies of Imphal and its surrounding areas having a population of more than 3 lakhs. But the rivers are dying due to human pressure at its catchments areas as well as its river course in due course of time.
“We’re also organizing the 2nd edition of River Bank Music Festival on the bank of Imphal River which runs through the hearts of the Imphal city on March 25 to bring awareness to save the river bank from encroachments etc,” said Tom, a young organizer.
Essentially, river bank music festival envisages to bring together people and create a platform for artists, music lovers, and the like, bound by a common bond viz music as well as to throw light on the deteriorating conditions of Imphal river and its banks.
