The choked valley: Air pollution and dirty roads in Imphal city
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Dr Yumnam Oken Singh
Nestled in a picturesque valley, surrounded by the gentle, protective embrace of the Barail and Naga hills, Imphal, the capital city of Manipur, should epitomize pristine beauty and fresh, mountain air. The surrounding hills, often veiled in mist, paint a scene of serene isolation. Yet, within this natural amphitheatre, a stark and distressing contradiction unfolds. The city is gripped by an environmental crisis, characterized by severely polluted air and labyrinthine networks of filthy, broken roads. The most alarming indicator of Imphal’s environmental distress is its persistently high Air Quality Index (AQI). For a city located in such a beautiful valley, one would expect the geography to facilitate the dispersal of pollutants. Tragically, the opposite is true. The AQI frequently soars into the “Poor” to “Very Poor” categories, with Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10) being the primary culprits. This is not the haze of distant industrial smoke stacks; it is a homegrown smog, born from the very streets of Imphal.
The genesis of this particulate pollution is intimately linked to the state of the city’s roads and infrastructure. A primary walk through any major thoroughfare or residential lane reveals a landscape perpetually coated in dust. The roads themselves are vast repositories of loose silt and fine particles, churned up continuously by the movement of vehicles. This dust is not merely superficial dirt; it is a complex mixture of soil, dried mud, and fragmented waste. The absence of paved footpaths exacerbates the problem, as pedestrians are forced to walk on the dusty, uneven edges, further stirring up the particles. When the dry season gives way to the rains, the dust does not disappear—it transforms. The fine particles mix with rainwater to form a thick, viscous mud that splatters onto everything and everyone, turning streets into slippery quagmires—coating vehicles and lower building walls in a grimy brown layer.
Adding a toxic dimension to this particulate haze is the acrid smoke from burning waste. Despite regulations and awareness campaigns, the practice of burning plastic, leaves, and other domestic refuse in open pits or by the roadside (mostly unattended) remains distressingly common. This combustion releases a cocktail of dangerous chemicals, dioxins, and black carbon directly into the air. The smell is unmistakable and suffocating—enough to choke a patient. This practice not only spikes air pollution but also represents a catastrophic failure of systematic waste management, poisoning the very air citizens breathe.
The visual and olfactory evidence of this crisis is omnipresent. Trees lining the roads, which should serve as natural air filters, are instead shrouded in a grey pallor, their leaves caked with dust, impairing their photosynthetic ability. Houses and buildings, particularly those abutting the roads, lose their colours under a uniform layer of grime. The urban landscape is further blighted by indiscriminate littering. Plastic bottles, food wrappers, and polythene bags are strewn everywhere—clogging drains, caught in fences, and fluttering from shrubs, creating a permanent spectacle of civic neglect.
This neglect is most dangerously embodied in the city’s drainage system, or the tragic lack thereof. What passes for drains are often open, stagnant trenches lining the streets, filled with plastic waste, organic decay, and sludge. They are perpetually clogged, rendering them useless during rains and turning into festering cesspools in the dry spells. The stench from these drains is a constant affront, but the danger runs deeper. They are ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, transforming Imphal into a high-risk zone for vector-borne diseases like malaria and Dengue. The public health cost of these open sewers is immense and ongoing.
Compounding all these discomforts is the abysmal condition of the road surfaces themselves. Potholes are not occasional hazards; they are a defining feature. Ranging from small craters to gaping fissures, they turn commutes into arduous obstacle courses, damaging vehicles, causing traffic snarls, and posing serious risks to two-wheelers. During rains, these potholes fill with water, hiding their depth and creating further peril. During winter, the dust on the roads originates largely from the disintegration of these very surfaces and the excavated earth from poorly managed utility works that is never properly cleared.
The collective impact of this environment is a profound diminution in the quality of life. Respiratory illnesses—asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)—are on the rise, especially among children and the elderly. The constant dust and grime deter walking, discourage outdoor activities, and cast a pall of gloom over the city’s aesthetic. The pervasive filth and disorder contribute to a sense of civic apathy and despair, undermining community spirit and pride.
Reversing this decline demands a concerted, multi-pronged strategy that addresses both infrastructure and mindset. The remedies must be immediate, sincere, and sustainable.
Firstly, a radical overhaul of the drainage and road infrastructure is non-negotiable. The Government and municipality must embark on a mission-mode project to till and scientifically redesign the entire drainage network. This is the cornerstone of the solution. A comprehensive, covered, and interconnected drainage system will prevent water logging, eliminate stagnant pools, and crucially, reduce the amount of loose soil and silt that washes onto roads and dries into dust. This must be accompanied by a rigorous and quality-focused road construction and maintenance regime. Roads must be built to last, with proper compaction of sub-base layers and timely, smooth asphalt topping. The culture of temporary, sub-standard patchwork must end. Furthermore, constructing proper, paved pavements on both sides of all major and residential roads is essential. This will protect pedestrians, reduce dust disturbance from foot traffic, and instil a sense of order in the urban landscape.
Secondly, a revolution in waste management is imperative. The municipality must execute its duties with sincerity and accountability. A door-to-door collection system for segregated waste must be implemented reliably and regularly. This requires investment in compactors, sanitation staff, and transparent logistics. More importantly, citizens must develop a better civic sense and not depend solely on the Government. The culture of littering and open burning is a social malaise. Community-led initiatives, ward-level committees, and intense awareness campaigns in schools and localities are needed to foster a sense of ownership. The “use and throw” mentality, especially regarding plastics, must be replaced by a culture of reduction, reuse, and responsible disposal. Penalties for littering and burning should be strictly enforced to deter antisocial behaviour.
Thirdly, greening the city must be a priority. The existing dust-laden trees should be regularly cleaned and cared for, and massive tree-plantation drives, particularly of native species with large canopy covers and dust-trapping abilities, should be undertaken. Vertical gardens on walls and green belts along roads can serve as natural air filters and carbon sinks, helping to mitigate the valley’s trapping effect.
Fourthly, traffic and construction dust need specific mitigation. Mandatory covering of construction material transported in trucks, and enforcement of dust control measures at building sites can significantly reduce particulate emission at source.
Finally, there must be empowered and consistent governance. The Imphal Municipal Corporation needs to be equipped with both resources and a mandate for performance, with transparent monitoring. Citizen oversight committees can help ensure that projects are completed and maintenance is continuous, not cyclical.
The dirty roads and choking air of Imphal are not an inevitable fate but a result of systemic neglect and collective apathy. The beautiful valley that cradles the city has been turned into a trap for its own pollution. However, the path to redemption is clear. It lies in marrying robust, sincere Governmental action with an awakened and participatory citizenry. By tilling the drains, paving the roads and footpaths, managing waste with responsibility, and reclaiming green spaces, Imphal can breathe again. The choice, and the work, must begin now.
The writer is Assistant Professor at Central Agricultural University, Imphal Email: [email protected]
Nestled in a picturesque valley, surrounded by the gentle, protective embrace of the Barail and Naga hills, Imphal, the capital city of Manipur, should epitomize pristine beauty and fresh, mountain air. The surrounding hills, often veiled in mist, paint a scene of serene isolation. Yet, within this natural amphitheatre, a stark and distressing contradiction unfolds. The city is gripped by an environmental crisis, characterized by severely polluted air and labyrinthine networks of filthy, broken roads. The most alarming indicator of Imphal’s environmental distress is its persistently high Air Quality Index (AQI). For a city located in such a beautiful valley, one would expect the geography to facilitate the dispersal of pollutants. Tragically, the opposite is true. The AQI frequently soars into the “Poor” to “Very Poor” categories, with Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10) being the primary culprits. This is not the haze of distant industrial smoke stacks; it is a homegrown smog, born from the very streets of Imphal.
The genesis of this particulate pollution is intimately linked to the state of the city’s roads and infrastructure. A primary walk through any major thoroughfare or residential lane reveals a landscape perpetually coated in dust. The roads themselves are vast repositories of loose silt and fine particles, churned up continuously by the movement of vehicles. This dust is not merely superficial dirt; it is a complex mixture of soil, dried mud, and fragmented waste. The absence of paved footpaths exacerbates the problem, as pedestrians are forced to walk on the dusty, uneven edges, further stirring up the particles. When the dry season gives way to the rains, the dust does not disappear—it transforms. The fine particles mix with rainwater to form a thick, viscous mud that splatters onto everything and everyone, turning streets into slippery quagmires—coating vehicles and lower building walls in a grimy brown layer.
Adding a toxic dimension to this particulate haze is the acrid smoke from burning waste. Despite regulations and awareness campaigns, the practice of burning plastic, leaves, and other domestic refuse in open pits or by the roadside (mostly unattended) remains distressingly common. This combustion releases a cocktail of dangerous chemicals, dioxins, and black carbon directly into the air. The smell is unmistakable and suffocating—enough to choke a patient. This practice not only spikes air pollution but also represents a catastrophic failure of systematic waste management, poisoning the very air citizens breathe.
The visual and olfactory evidence of this crisis is omnipresent. Trees lining the roads, which should serve as natural air filters, are instead shrouded in a grey pallor, their leaves caked with dust, impairing their photosynthetic ability. Houses and buildings, particularly those abutting the roads, lose their colours under a uniform layer of grime. The urban landscape is further blighted by indiscriminate littering. Plastic bottles, food wrappers, and polythene bags are strewn everywhere—clogging drains, caught in fences, and fluttering from shrubs, creating a permanent spectacle of civic neglect.
This neglect is most dangerously embodied in the city’s drainage system, or the tragic lack thereof. What passes for drains are often open, stagnant trenches lining the streets, filled with plastic waste, organic decay, and sludge. They are perpetually clogged, rendering them useless during rains and turning into festering cesspools in the dry spells. The stench from these drains is a constant affront, but the danger runs deeper. They are ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, transforming Imphal into a high-risk zone for vector-borne diseases like malaria and Dengue. The public health cost of these open sewers is immense and ongoing.
Compounding all these discomforts is the abysmal condition of the road surfaces themselves. Potholes are not occasional hazards; they are a defining feature. Ranging from small craters to gaping fissures, they turn commutes into arduous obstacle courses, damaging vehicles, causing traffic snarls, and posing serious risks to two-wheelers. During rains, these potholes fill with water, hiding their depth and creating further peril. During winter, the dust on the roads originates largely from the disintegration of these very surfaces and the excavated earth from poorly managed utility works that is never properly cleared.
The collective impact of this environment is a profound diminution in the quality of life. Respiratory illnesses—asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)—are on the rise, especially among children and the elderly. The constant dust and grime deter walking, discourage outdoor activities, and cast a pall of gloom over the city’s aesthetic. The pervasive filth and disorder contribute to a sense of civic apathy and despair, undermining community spirit and pride.
Reversing this decline demands a concerted, multi-pronged strategy that addresses both infrastructure and mindset. The remedies must be immediate, sincere, and sustainable.
Firstly, a radical overhaul of the drainage and road infrastructure is non-negotiable. The Government and municipality must embark on a mission-mode project to till and scientifically redesign the entire drainage network. This is the cornerstone of the solution. A comprehensive, covered, and interconnected drainage system will prevent water logging, eliminate stagnant pools, and crucially, reduce the amount of loose soil and silt that washes onto roads and dries into dust. This must be accompanied by a rigorous and quality-focused road construction and maintenance regime. Roads must be built to last, with proper compaction of sub-base layers and timely, smooth asphalt topping. The culture of temporary, sub-standard patchwork must end. Furthermore, constructing proper, paved pavements on both sides of all major and residential roads is essential. This will protect pedestrians, reduce dust disturbance from foot traffic, and instil a sense of order in the urban landscape.
Secondly, a revolution in waste management is imperative. The municipality must execute its duties with sincerity and accountability. A door-to-door collection system for segregated waste must be implemented reliably and regularly. This requires investment in compactors, sanitation staff, and transparent logistics. More importantly, citizens must develop a better civic sense and not depend solely on the Government. The culture of littering and open burning is a social malaise. Community-led initiatives, ward-level committees, and intense awareness campaigns in schools and localities are needed to foster a sense of ownership. The “use and throw” mentality, especially regarding plastics, must be replaced by a culture of reduction, reuse, and responsible disposal. Penalties for littering and burning should be strictly enforced to deter antisocial behaviour.
Thirdly, greening the city must be a priority. The existing dust-laden trees should be regularly cleaned and cared for, and massive tree-plantation drives, particularly of native species with large canopy covers and dust-trapping abilities, should be undertaken. Vertical gardens on walls and green belts along roads can serve as natural air filters and carbon sinks, helping to mitigate the valley’s trapping effect.
Fourthly, traffic and construction dust need specific mitigation. Mandatory covering of construction material transported in trucks, and enforcement of dust control measures at building sites can significantly reduce particulate emission at source.
Finally, there must be empowered and consistent governance. The Imphal Municipal Corporation needs to be equipped with both resources and a mandate for performance, with transparent monitoring. Citizen oversight committees can help ensure that projects are completed and maintenance is continuous, not cyclical.
The dirty roads and choking air of Imphal are not an inevitable fate but a result of systemic neglect and collective apathy. The beautiful valley that cradles the city has been turned into a trap for its own pollution. However, the path to redemption is clear. It lies in marrying robust, sincere Governmental action with an awakened and participatory citizenry. By tilling the drains, paving the roads and footpaths, managing waste with responsibility, and reclaiming green spaces, Imphal can breathe again. The choice, and the work, must begin now.
The writer is Assistant Professor at Central Agricultural University, Imphal Email: [email protected]