Mizoram’s Chite Lui River is crying for help

Mizoram’s Chite Lui River is crying for help

Subject: Geography

Section: Places in news

Context:

• The Chite Lui river is getting polluted due to waste generated from the eateries and garages.

Chite Lui River:

• Situated in an alluvial valley at an altitude of about 1,000 metres, the river originates from the Bawngkawn ranges in north Aizawl and flows for around 20 km in eastern Aizawl before joining River Tuirial at the southern end of the city.

The river has turned into a dumping ground due to:

• Unplanned urbanisation and encroachments
• Business establishments situated close to the river
• The river serves as a dumping ground for several houses and shops located nearby.

Efforts to save Chite Lui:

• Zoram Research Foundation, a non-profit organisation working for traditional water management in Mizoram, began an initiative to save the river in 2007.
• A plastic road- the first in the state– was also constructed last year from the polythene waste retrieved from the river at Reiek village.
• In Mann ki Bat, the Prime minister praised the Save Chite Lui action plan to save the river that had been turned into a landfill.