LDA flayed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 30 2020: The Ngamee Lup has announced that it will launch a series of agitations in the coming days against the Loktak Development Authority (LDA) and other institutions that "seek to destroy" the ecosystem of wetlands including Loktak Lake and livelihoods of the surrounding people.

Speaking at a press meet held at Chingmeirong Maning Leikai today, Ngamee Lup convenor, Ram Wangkheirakpam said that a recent report prepared by the LDA and Wetlands International South Asia (WISA) titled "Loktak, Integrated Wise Use Plan" has brought to the fore a blatant attempt to dislocate farmers (fishing and agriculture) who are dependent on the Loktak, Pumlen, Ikop-Kharung and Khoidum wetlands in the name of 'wise use and conservation' .

He said the report allegedly blames the fishing community for the deteriorated state of the Loktak Wetland Complex and paves the way for Government promoted new projects.

Ram pointed out that the Loktak Inland Waterways Project will destroy not only the ecosystem of the lake but also the traditional and sustainable mode of transports, canoes that fishermen use.

He further said that the Loktak Eco-tourism Project seeks to build a golf course, artificial beach, resort, cottages among others in the vicinity of the lake.

The project aims to open the lake to affluent tourists which is against the interest of the fishing villages, he said adding that the Government is planning to hand over the lake to private corporations.

"It is clear that the Government is chasing fishing communities away as it did in 2011, only to hand over the Loktak Lake to private corporations," Ram said.

The LDA blames the fishing villages for the deteriorated state of Loktak Lake and dub them "encroachers" whereas in reality, it is the Ithai Barrage of the NHPC owned and Loktak Hydroelectric Project that have been affecting the ecosystem of the lake, he added.

Ram contended that the Loktak Protection Act, 2006 doesn't incorporate the 'wise use principle' mentioned in the National Wetlands Rules 2017 and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

Denouncing the LPA, 2006, the Ngamee Lup said that the same should be reviewed and amended.

The Ngamee Lup will be launching a series of agitations to save the fishing villages and secure their livelihoods, said Ram.

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