Wake Up, Lamka: Our Town is Sinking in Neglect

ON May 22, a brief downpour hit Lamka. Instead of bringing relief, it brought the familiar, depressing sight of our town sinking yet again. Lamka is a vital hub in southern Manipur, a proud home to a rich mosaic of tribal communities. We are a town that prides itself on education, having produced brilliant students, scholars, politicians, and civil servants who excel across the country. Yet, the moment a little rain falls, this intellectual and cultural pride is washed away by flooded, chaotic streets.

The immediate culprit is a complete collapse of basic infrastructure, pointing to a glaring failure by the local administration and PWD officials. Our drainage system is either non-existent or completely choked. Why are the concerned authorities sleeping on their duties? Year after year, public funds are allocated, yet the roads transform into rivers at the slightest drizzle. The sheer incompetence of the PWD in designing proper outlets means that overflows carry filth, rubbish, and hazardous garbage right onto our doorsteps, posing severe health risks to everyone.

However, the government is only half to blame. We, the public, are equally responsible due to a shocking lack of civic sense. We complain about the dirt while mindlessly tossing our household waste into the nearest drain. There can be no cleanliness or tidiness in our town if we continue to mismanage our garbage so recklessly. The ugliness or beauty of Lamka does not just depend on concrete; it depends entirely on the mindset of those who dwell in this beautiful corner of the earth. We must stop expecting others to clean up after our own collective laziness.

As the heavy monsoon season approaches, this is a clarion call for everyone to wake up before it is too late. The local authorities must be shaken out of their apathy to clear the main channels, but we must also look in the mirror. True change requires a collective shift in our mindset; a shared responsibility to protect our environment. The cleanliness and survival of our beloved town lie squarely in our own hands; let us clean our act and our streets today.

~ Zogam Today | Editorial | 23.05.2026

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