Consultation meet on changing eco-system begins
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 06 2016:
A two-day consultation meeting has been started at Moirang to address the issues arising out of the changing ecosystem of the Loktak on Wednesday.
Loktak Lake is not only the largest freshwater lake in the Northeast but also the largest lake in the Manipur river basin, covering 61% of the total identified wetlands of the State.
The consultation meet which was organized by the Bishnupur based People's Resources Development Association (PRDA) in collaboration with the ActionAID Association of India, was attended by science teachers, activists, journalist, students, representatives of the local organizations and fisherman bodies etc.
Speaking at the occasion State's forest and floral diversity expert Dr H Nandiram, said the hydrological system of the Loktak Lake has been drastically changed due to human pressure.
Dr Nandiram suggested that the need to revive the reserve forests in Manipur's hill slopes facing the lake and release only the recycled or treated water from the polluted rivers which are flowing down to the lake.
Altogether about 37 rivers and streams flows to Loktak.
He also suggested introduction of fish stair at Ethai dam site so that the migratory freshwater fishes can visit Loktak as in the past or the authority concerned should introduce these fishes after collection from its natural route.
Salam Rajesh, environmental activist shared the case stories relating to the conservation activities at the community level particularly in the catchments areas while RK Birjit state coordinator of the IBCN expressed the importance of conserving the natural ecosystem of the lake particularly the migratory waterfowl as the birds acts as the sophisticated natural tool to measure the water quality of the lake and also in improving the surrounding vegetation.
Representative of a fishermen community Rajen Oinam also shared the changing character of the lake after construction of Ithai dam and enactment of Loktak Protection Act 2006 .