Manipur Iril river water contamination: Initial testing indicated all parameters were within permissible limits for untreated water. Further testing in an advanced laboratory, however, will be done, officials said.
Imphal:
The gates of a dam in Manipur were shut today after a black, oil-like substance was found in a key river in Imphal East district, sparking concerns over possible water contamination.
The incident comes less than a month after an oil leak from an unused heavy-fuel power plant polluted another river.
The Public Health Engineering Department in a statement today told they close the dam gates to prevent the dartyness water from spreading downstream.
PHED Minister said that Susindro Meitei or a team of engineers went to the site and inspected the contaminated area. They take hold water samples from multiple locations and sent them to different laboratories,
An officer said the black substance appeared concentrated at a specific portion of the Iril river.
Initial testing indicated all parameters were within permissible limits for untreated water. Further testing in an advanced laboratory, however, will be done, the PHED said.
The authorities have asked villagers living near the dam and the affected river to stay vigilant and report any suspicious incident.
Residents of Leitanpokpi Awang Leikai, a valley area 30 km from the state capital Imphal, who first saw the black substance in the river, stopped using the water out of fear of likely toxic contamination. They immediately contacted district officials, the residents told reporters.