3413 acres of Loktak Lake encroached up
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 10 2018:
Around 3413.35 acres of Loktak Lake are being occupied by encroachers belonging to as many as 40 villages of Imphal West and Bishnupur districts.
A general body meeting of Loktak Development Authority (LDA) was held on January 23 this year with Chief Minister N Biren in the chair.
The meeting decided to cancel Jammabandis and Pattas issued against Loktak Lake areas to encroachers, informed a source.
The total number of encroachers is 1327 and the total of Dags allotted against them is 1113 .
The Loktak Lake areas being occupied by encroachers form 11 villages under SDC Mayang Imphal, four villages under SDC Kumbi, five villages under SDC Moirang, two villages under AS&SO Moirang, eight villages under SDC Ningthoukhong, four villages under SDC Bishnupur, two-villages under SDC Oinam and three villages under SDC Nambol, said the source.
The SDCs concerned have been surveying the encroached areas-and some of them have completed the survey work.
After the LDA general body meeting was over, Revenue Department asked the DCs concerned to evict encroachers and cancel Jammabandis issued to them, and also to carry out a proper demarcation.
Revenue Department further asked the DCs to cancel Jammabandis issued against 138.71 acres after the Manipur Loktak (Protection) Act, 2006 came into force and take up befitting action against all officials involved in issuing such Jammabandis.
Notably, the total area of Loktak Lake is 236.21 square Kms.
The LDA general body meeting also constituted a committee led by the Forest Minister as chairman for modification of the existing structure of LDA office, said the source.
The committee held a meeting in February this year and decided to develop a Loktak wetland complex encompassing surrounding Khoidum Pat, Pumlen Pat, Ikop Pat and Kharung Pat.
A detailed project report of Rs 285 crore prepared by the Wetland International South East Asia has been furnished to LDA.
The committee has further decided to appoint five more scientists at LDA, regularise work charge employees of LDA and open a wetland interpretation centre.
The committee has also been considering construction of barricade between Komlakhong and Thanga which can block phumdis from floating away from Keibul Lamjao National Park and take thicker phumdis of Loktak Lake inside the park, informed the source.