Northeast Desk, 11th January: In Manipur, a pressing environmental issue has emerged following a leak of ‘heavy fuel’ from the Leimakhong power station in the Imphal West district.
The leak, occurring on the night of January 10th, 2024, has resulted in the contamination of nearby streams critical for local communities and aquatic life.
Upon receiving reports of the “heavy fuel” leakage from the Leimakhong Power Station, the Manipur government has urged all relevant departments to take swift action. The spilled fuel has now entered streams traversing the Imphal Valley.
An official order from the government states, “Leakage of ‘heavy fuel’ from Leimakhong Power Station has been reported, leading to spillover of the discharge along streams passing through Kantosabal, Sekmai, etc. The stream meets the Imphal River downstream by flowing through Khurkhul-Loitang-Kameng-Iroisemba-Nambul.”
The order emphasizes the immediate necessity for concerned authorities to prevent an environmental catastrophe, utilizing available resources such as machinery, manpower, and expertise. The state government calls for the activation of response mechanisms and standard operating procedures for such incidents.
The order specifies, “Deputy Commissioner (Imphal West) shall coordinate in the field until further instructions.”
In response to the situation, Manipur’s Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED) Minister Leishangthem Susindro Meitei and Forest Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh visited the site late last night.