Centre promises fund to protect Loktak Lake in Manipur

IMPHAL: Manipur's Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Awangbow Newmai said on Sunday that the Centre has assured to provide Rs 97 crore to protect the famous Loktak Lake. Newmai made the statement after holding a meeting with Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav.

Newmai told the media that Sunday's review meeting in presence of the Central Minister was held with an objective to save the Loktak Lake. He said that the Union Minister gave an assurance to provide his full support to all the plans to preserve and protect the lake, which has floating land masses and 'phumdis' (series of floating lakes) not found in any other place in the world.

"The Union Minister gave his commitment to provide Rs 97 crore to undertake various protection measures of the Loktak Lake," the Minister said.

Loktak Development Authority Chairman LS Meitei said that the Union Minister is concerned with the conservation efforts of the Loktak Lake. "A detailed conservation plan was put up in Sunday's review meeting. The plan also included to provide sustainable livelihood for fishermen in the periphery area," Meitei said.

The Union Environment Minister's meeting was the second within a week on the development and protection of Loktak Lake. Yadav had earlier said that Loktak was not only a lake but also an important historic landmark of India's Independence struggle. It is a sacred place from where Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose showed the dream of an independent India to the people of the country.

Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had earlier said that the government was unable to properly utilise the gift given by nature in the form of various flora and fauna which are found abundantly in the State.

Sunday's review meeting was attended by representatives of various NGOs, including Goodwill Mission, Manipur, Joint Coordination Committee on Wildlife and Biodiversity, Environmental Social Reformation and Sangai Protection Forum, Yaralpat Integrated Farming Cooperative Society, Loktak Lake Tourism Development Cooperative Society Ltd, Sendra and Loktak View Point Development Organisation.

The meeting was also attended by the senior officials of the Forest Department, including Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force Aditya Kumar Joshi. Loktak Lake in Manipur's Bishnupur district, Deepor Beel in Guwahati and Rudrasagar Lake in western Tripura are the three lakes in the Northeast which are categorised as wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. This convention provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. (IANS)

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