Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 02:
To protect the Loktak lake, the Manipur Loktak Lake Protection Ordinance 2005 has been enforced since October this year.
Speaking to The Sangai Express Loktak Development Authority Chairman MLA N Loken today said that due to paucity of funds, the LDA could not do anything substantive to protect Loktak but now with an Ordinance being enforced, steps will be taken up to evict the encroachers from the side of the lake.
Plans were on to pass the Manipur Loktak Lake Protection Bill in the Monsoon session of the Assembly this year but it could not be done on time, said the Chairman and added that instead the Ordinance was enforced.
To protect and save Loktak lake for further degradation and pollution the co-operation and help of the people living on the periphery of the lake and civil organisations are needed, said Loken.
In 1995-96, the North Eastern Council earmarked only Rs 30 crores for Loktak lake for ten years, said the MLA and added that due to the paucity of funds, LDA could not take up any concrete measures to protect Loktak lake.
During these 10 years, the State Government too did not sanction any substantive amount and the money was given from the non-Plan pool, said Loken.
However now the NEC has surveyed Loktak lake and earmarked another Rs 34 crores for Loktak lake and is likely to release Rs 15 crores as the first instalment, said the MLA and added that steps to protect the lake will start from December/January.
During a survey conducted in 2003-04 it was found that there are over 4000 phumdis at the lake, said Loken.
The LDA has already met the fishermen who have set up the phumdis and it was agreed that the phumdis would be removed and compensations paid accordingly.
The compensations will be paid according to the size of the phumdis and it may hover around Rs 17,000 per phumdis.
Once the phumdis are removed no fisherman would be allowed to set up phumdis at the lake.
Earlier Loktak covered an area of 456 sq kms but today the size has shrunk to 226 sq kms, said the MLA and added that under the Ordinance, the encroachers on the side of Loktak lake would be evicted.