Rampant excavation of the riverbed and sand and stone quarrying in the river itself make the river water unsafe for consumption and domestic purposes.
Lelen Vaiphei
Pressing the High Court of Manipur to save Thoubal River and to deliver swift justice to the people inhabiting along the stretch of Thoubal River, the Thoubal River Conservation Committee (TRCC) today protested in front of the law court in Manipur
Thoubal river is one of the major tributaries of Imphal river that originated from the hill ranges of Ukhrul district before meeting Imphal river at Irong, Thoubal district and pass through Yairpok and Thoubal
The protest was held prior to the third hearing of the suo moto PIL taken up by the Manipur High Court on February 8 based on a complaint by TRCC.
Speaking to media on the sidelines of the protest, convenor, TRCC, Khumanthem Inaocha pointed out that since its formation last year, the committee, which is a conglomerate of 35 clubs of villages and Meira Paibi organisations along the Thoubal River, opposed the unchecked sand mining and quarrying from the riverbed of Thoubal River.
He further noted that the rampant excavation from the riverbed and washing the sand and stones in the river itself cause the river water to be very muddy and polluted in the last two-three years, thereby making it unsafe for human consumption and other domestic purposes.
The Thoubal River, which flows through six assembly constituencies, is a major water source and a lifeline for number of people. However, the government has turned a blind eye to the sufferings of the people caused by the greed for money of the sand mafias, who used huge excavation machines to exploit the resources from the river, he added.
He also said that the government has been compromising the desire of the people for the sake of few individuals, remaining indifferent despite repeated appeals, pleas and protests by the people.
While expressing gratefulness that the court took up their cause by registering the suo moto PIL and subsequent hearings, the committee convener appealed to speed up the hearing and save Thoubal River by swift delivering of justice to the people.
He also disclosed their demand to ban sand mining and quarrying with immediate effect and to award befitting punishment to those who violate the restriction.The protesters were later dispersed by the police.
The statement submitted to the court on February appealed for a halt in the stones and sand mining activities from the river while also asking for legal actions against the culprits..
It also called for legal actions to be initiated against the authorities concerned who have repeatedly ignored the demands and memorandums submitted by the public and the committee while adding another appeal for restoration of the river to its former conditions
