Manipur’s Drainage System: Decline, Consequences, and the Way Forward

Manipur’s Drainage System: Decline, Consequences, and the Way Forward is an in-depth exploration of one of Northeast India’s most pressing environmental and social challenges.

The book traces the natural drainage cycle of Manipur’s valley—where rivers, wetlands, and the iconic Loktak Lake once worked in harmony to regulate floods, sustain agriculture, support fisheries, and nurture biodiversity. It documents how the construction of the Ethai Barrage in 1983 disrupted this natural rhythm, leading to permanent high water levels, rapid siltation of Loktak, and the decline of associated wetlands such as Pumlen and Khoidum.

Through fourteen comprehensive chapters, the book examines the ecological collapse of wetlands, the loss of native fish species, the threat to the Sangai deer, and the cultural erosion faced by communities who once lived in balance with water. It gives voice to farmers, fisherfolk, and women’s groups resisting displacement, while also presenting scientific analysis, case studies, and data on the extent of degradation.

But the book does not stop at documenting decline. It offers practical solutions and sustainable alternatives—from modifying dam operations and desiltation, to community-led wetland management, alternative energy, and eco-tourism models. It argues for a balance between development and nature, rooted in traditional knowledge, global wetland frameworks, and the lived experiences of Manipuri people.

Rich with cultural insight, ecological detail, and policy recommendations, this book is essential reading for researchers, students, policymakers, activists, and anyone concerned with rivers, wetlands, and sustainable development.

It is more than an environmental study—it is a call to action to save the living waters of Manipur.