Imphal: Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho on Saturday stressed the importance of water conservation and environmental protection, saying these were more important than fighting and killing people.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a one-day conclave on “Climate Resilient Springshed: Research, Practice and Policy” in Imphal, Dikho said people must prioritise the conservation of water and the environment over conflicts over land and political aspirations.
“We can buy bullets, but we cannot buy water if there is no water available,” he said, underscoring the importance of water conservation amid growing concerns over climate change and environmental degradation.
Dikho said water scarcity had become a serious concern across the hill districts, where many water sources had dried up, adding that people could not survive without water.
He also expressed concern over deforestation across large parts of the hill districts, attributing it partly to unregulated activities, particularly poppy cultivation.
Stressing the need to restore springsheds, he called for increased plantation activities, noting that communities in the hills depended heavily on spring water.
Addressing the inaugural session as chief guest, Dikho said water was not merely a natural resource but the foundation of life, agricultural livelihoods and cultural heritage.
He said water conservation was particularly important in Manipur, where hills, forests, wetlands, rivers and valleys formed an interconnected ecological system.
Dikho noted that springs were lifelines for both hill and valley communities, providing water for drinking, domestic use, agriculture, livestock and other livelihood activities. However, he warned that spring sources were becoming increasingly vulnerable to environmental changes and human pressures.
He said water security in villages depended on the health of springsheds and called for the protection of spring recharge areas through research-based initiatives integrated with traditional, community-led conservation practices.
Dikho further pointed to changing rainfall patterns, prolonged dry spells, intense rainfall events, deforestation, land-use changes, soil erosion and unplanned construction as factors affecting the landscape’s ability to absorb, store and gradually release water.
Arun Kumar Sinha, principal secretary of the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, and T Brajakumar Singh, director of Environment and Climate Change, attended the event as guests of honour.
The second edition of the conclave brought together researchers, planners, practitioners, government departments and community stakeholders for interdisciplinary discussions on strengthening climate-resilient springshed management in the Indian Himalayan Region.
The initiative seeks to enhance water security, promote sustainable development and strengthen resilience to climate change in Manipur and beyond.
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During the inaugural programme, village headmen from Lunghar and Hoomi, along with community resource persons (CRPs), were felicitated.
During the technical sessions, experts, scientists and panellists from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Kathmandu; the Advanced Center for Water Resources Development and Management (ACWADAM), Pune; Aaranyak, Assam; and representatives from Meghalaya, Sikkim and Manipur shared their findings and experiences on climate-resilient springshed management.
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