A State Legislators’ Dialogue was organised by Manipur Forum for Sustainable Mountain Development (MFSMD) and Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI), supported by Indian Himalayas Climate Adaptation Programme (IHCAP), Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India on 14th November in Imphal. It was attended by Lok Sabha MP Dr RK Ranjan, Outer MP Dr Lorho Pfoze, PHE Minister L Dikho, Ukhrul MLA Alfred Kanngam S Arthur, Hill Areas Committee Chairman TT Haokip as well as ADC members. It was also attended by IISC-Bangalore Professor NH Rabindranath, Directorate of Environment and Climate Change Deputy Director Dr T Brajakumar, and IHCAP Science Policy Officer Divya Mohan.

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS:

• Many staple/indigenous foods of the State have gradually started to vanish along with their native names from the vocabulary of the people as well.
• With the coming of the Loktak project, more than 180 fish species of Manipur have disappeared.
• Illegal logging in the forests which is leading to adverse impact on the environment.
• Around 4 million springs/water bodies along the IHR (including from Manipur) have started to vanish and the water recharging capability of around 50 percent or half of the water bodies, has decreased.
• Manipur has started experiencing extreme climate change, like getting around 52 mm of rainfall in just one hour or rainfall supposed to occur during monsoon season coming much earlier or much later.