Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 05 2010:
With the aim to save Loktak and make its water clean and healthy, six-day long Loktak Water Festival was kicked off today at Sendra ground.
inaugural function of the festival jointly organised by Loktak Lake Fishermen Welfare Society and Loktak Development Authority was attended by MLA T Mangibabu, social worker O Nabakumar and social worker Kh Nodiachand as presidium members.
The festival is being held under the slogan "Let's make Loktak Lake a prime tourist attraction.
Save Loktak, Save Our Life".
Speaking at the occasion, social worker W Binoy said that saving Loktak should be the collective responsibility of all the people of Manipur.
Lamenting that Loktak water is becoming polluted, Binoy said that waste materials, fertilizer rudiments and pesticides brought down by rivers to Loktak are the main causes which have been making water of the lake unhealthy and contaminated.
T Mangibabu observed that Loktak lake is of great utilities to the people.
It helps in ameliorating economic conditions, preserving ecological balance besides having immense potential to for development as a prime tourist attraction.
O Nabakumar said that the system of Loktak Project need to be reviewed.
He also decried the Government's instruction to Loktak phumdi dwellers to leave their homesteads and take up alternative means of livelihood other than fishing.
The opening function also featured a swimming rally.
Stalls offering different indigenous varieties of fish delicacies would be opened during the festival.