IMPHAL: Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho has called for prioritising the conservation of forests and water sources over land disputes and political aspirations, warning that forest degradation is contributing to the disappearance of springs across the state.
Addressing the second conclave on Climate-Resilient Springshed: Research, Practice and Policy in Imphal, Dikho said the protection of water sources must remain a priority despite ongoing disputes over land and political issues.
“Many forest areas are degraded, which has resulted in the loss of springs in Manipur. We can buy bullets, but we cannot buy water if its sources completely dry up. We should give greater emphasis to the conservation of forests and springs,” he said, in an apparent reference to the state’s ongoing conflict.
The conclave, organised by the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, brought together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, government departments and community stakeholders to discuss strategies for climate-resilient springshed management in the Indian Himalayan Region.
Emphasising the importance of water as a life-sustaining resource, Dikho said it was fundamental to the state’s agricultural economy and cultural heritage. He also highlighted the ecological interdependence of Manipur’s hills, forests, wetlands, rivers and valleys, calling for sustained conservation efforts to protect the state’s water resources.
Participants included delegates from Himalayan states such as Sikkim, Meghalaya and Assam, as well as representatives of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Nepal, and the Advanced Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (ACWADAM).
Addressing the gathering, Arun Kumar Sinha, Principal Secretary, Forest, Environment and Climate Change, said the Manipur government had published the first edition of Springs of Manipur in 2025. The publication contains an inventory of springs, maps of critical springs and hydrogeological studies covering different districts of the state, he said.
Sinha stressed that springshed management should move beyond isolated conservation initiatives and become an integral part of the state’s water security, ecosystem restoration and climate adaptation strategies.
He identified the systematic inventory of springs in vulnerable areas as a key priority, emphasising the need to document seasonal variations, discharge patterns, water quality, dependent populations and the impact of human activities on springs.
He also called for an integrated springshed management framework for Manipur, with common principles for identifying critical springsheds and preparing science-based plans for their conservation and restoration.
The conclave underscored the need to integrate scientific research, policy planning and community participation to protect springs and strengthen water security across the Indian Himalayan Region.