Ukhrul reels under acute water crisis

UKHRUL, Feb 16 : With no rain, acute water scarcity has hit Ukhrul town hard adding much to the woes of the people who are already staring at a looming failure of crops this season.
In the last few years, Ukhrul has seen changes in the weather and environmental conditions, some even unprecedented.
While every household is affected by water scarcity, the farmers look more worried.
Them and their crops are thirsty for water. They constantly stare in the open sky waiting for the Nimbus clouds to appear with rain.
Achin Ragui (75), knows the traditional way of predicting rains.
He is confident that the natural rain cycle has been disrupted this season.
“Zingngashim” is late this year, he said.
The “Zingngashim” is the winter rain that comes at the beginning of a year. This rain helps crops sprout or germinate.
On the traditional way of predicting rains, he said the Tangkhul observe a rice cooking pot to predict rains.
A cooking pot must be closely observed. If it becomes wet or “Radhar Khayam,” then rainfall is certain within 2-3 days, he said.
He said the rain is delayed and a new season “Luirum Kathui” has arrived.
“Luirum Kathui” in Tangkhul is the beginning of the spring season when new leaves start to reappear on the trees and indigenous wild fruits start to flower.
People have some idea that changes in the weather and climate conditions may be responsible for the late rains and environment conditions now.
However, most people in Ukhrul hardly talk about environmental degradation caused by rampant forest exploitation.
While it is known that over exploitation of forest resources is bad for the environment, sometimes it is difficult to reason or negotiate with the villagers to reduce exploitation as they do depend on the forest resources for their livelihood.
The direct impact on the hydrological cycle due to forest depletion for various economic development is becoming real.
The price of sheer neglect for the environment is becoming a heavy penalty for the people of Ukhrul to pay.
With acres and acres of forest burnt, and resources exploited without control and rejuvenation measures, springs have become parched, and aquifers and water bodies are dying.
One Athan Zimik said, in Ukhrul, some 20-30 years ago, there were no pipes or tap water connections.
The people, however, had abundant water in their traditional ponds for drinking and household usage, said Zimik.
Themreishang Marei, Executive Engineer PHED, Ukhrul said the Department is working to resolve water shortage in Ukhrul Headquarters.
The engineer said Ukhrul town has a population of around 50,000-60,000, and it requires 27 lakh litre water daily.
However, only 4.5 lakh litres of water is reaching the reservoir tank from the Shirui water source during this lean season.
Also, two of Shirui water sources have shrunk  due to deforestation, he said.
He informed that there are more than 1,300 tap water connections in Ukhrul town, and currently the water is supplied on a rooster basis after a 4-5 day gap.
The Department has not provided new tap connections since the last couple of years.
New perennial sources have to be identified to meet the required daily need of 27 lakh litres of water. Once this is augmented, new tap connections would be provided to every household, he said.
PHE Department is in the process of constructing two reservoirs at Langdang and Makui Kong with the assistance from New Development Bank (NDB) as a long term measure to resolve water issues.
Each reservoir will have a water intake capacity of 3 lakh litres.
And for artificial recharging of Shirui spring source, PHE is consulting the village authority for construction of a contour trenching at the top portion of hills, said the engineer.
He also noted that the immediate causes for dry water sources are uncontrolled deforestation, forest wild fire and rapid urbanization that has lowered the water table.
Meanwhile, in Ukhrul town, 1,000 litres of water is sold at Rs 800, and has to be booked in advance at least 1 day ahead.
More than 40 trucks including water tankers are supplying water in Ukhrul town.
It may also be mentioned that Ukhrul is also identified as one of the climate vulnerable districts.
“The State Government agencies including NGOs, climate activists etc have to give more attention to educate and sensitize the rural dwellers on climate related issues for preservation and conservation of our dying springs before it is too late,” said some youths.