Water Resources Department
GENERAL INFORMATION
Manipur state with an area of 22,327 sq km comprises of 1820 sq km of flat alluvial valley and 20,507 sq km of hilly terrain with Loktak Lake in the valley. Geographically, Manipur, located in the North East region of India which experienced the heaviest rainfall in the world with the following major water resources:
1. The Manipur River Basin:- The Manipur River Basin has eight has eight major rivers such as Imphal River, Iril River, Nambul River, Sekmai River, Chakpi River, Wangjing River, Thoubal River and Khuga River. It accounts for 0.5192 million hectare meter of annual Run-off from a total catchment area of 6,332 sq km. All these rivers originated from the surrounding hills and flow towards the valley and finally, join with the Chindwin River in Myanmar through Loktak Lake.
2. The Barak Basin:- The Barak River Basin with its tributaries, such as Lrang River, Maku River, Tuivai River etc. has a greater discharge capacity with 1.3295 million hectare meter from a catchment area of 9,042 sq km. Most of the river pass through hilly regions and pass through adjoining State Assam and finally joins with Bramhaputra Rivers near the Bay of Bengal.
3. The Loktak Lake:- The Loktak Lake, the largest fresh water lake in North East India is situated 38 km south west of Imphal. The water spread area of the lake is about 286 sq km and spreads upto 490 sq km and spreads upto 490 sq km during monsoon.
The exploitation of these Water Resources were not felt earlier, it may be due to the fact that our state is blessed with abundant rainfall of about 1400mm and with the two major River Basins and Loktak Lake as receptacle of most of the rain seems to provide a visible assurance against scarcity of Water. Ther preliminary Survey and Investigation for some of the earlier Irrigation Schemes were carried out by one Sub-Division attached to the Irrigation, Embankment & Drainage Division under the Public Works Department (PWD), Manipur. But during 1972, there was a sever drought and this drought was a turning point towards development of Major & Medium Irrigation projects during 1972.
With the commencement of the Loktak Lift Irragation project and Khoupum Dam Project, it was felt that the establishment of a full-fledged Department as necessary. This was considered in view to the fact that, the water resource engineering is altogether a different specialized branch quite different from normal works being undertaken by the State Public Works Department. So, Water Resources Department (erstwhile Irrigation & Flood Department) came to birth in the State on May, 1976.
The Water Resources Department, Manipur is committed for development of i) Assured irrigation in the state by construction of Major & Medium Irrigation & Multipurpose projects and ii) Management of flood problems in the state with flood fighting/flood control schemes of restoration / improvement and protection works. Apart from irrigationand management of flood, the department is also creating potential for water supply and gydro-power generation from the Irrigation Projects. Under the aegis Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Gango Rejuvenation, the Department is implementing National Hydrology Project(NHP) in the state of Manipur. The Department is also taking up various water body development projects in the state of Manipur. Also, the department is undertaking the project, "Rejuvenation of Lamphelpat water body to alleviate urban flooding, providing sustainable water sources for Imphal city and promoting eco-tourism" as an externally aided project.