Strong political will needed to save Loktak : ALLAFUM
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 10 2023:
Stating that conservation of Loktak Lake requires strong political will, the All Loktak Lake Area Fishermen Union Manipur (ALLAFUM) and Champu Khangpok Floating Village Welfare Committee (CHFLWC) have conveyed their dissatisfaction over the initiatives taken up by the State Government to conserve the freshwater lake.
Speaking to media persons at the office of Indigenous Perspectives at Chingmeirong today, ALLAFUM secretary Oinam Rajen stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged Loktak Lake as a unique cultural heritage site in a radio programme Mann Ki Baat on January 29 .
Saying that the condition of the Loktak Lake, however, is distressing and its reality is far from the recognition given by the Prime Minister, he added that there is no indication of Ramsar guidelines being followed despite the designation of the freshwater lake as a Ramsar site in 1990 .
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"We also haven't come across any initiative being taken up under Wetlands Conservation and Management Rules 2017 at the lake so far," Rajen claimed and stated that the Manipur Loktak Lake (Protection) Act 2006 is becoming more like an anti-people legislation.
The Manipur Loktak Lake (Protection) Act 2006 doesn't have many provisions to protect Loktak Lake, he added.
The Act is anti-social, he said and elaborated that altogether 777 huts were burnt down for violating the Act in 2011 .
Governor La Ganesan, on World Wetlands Day observation on February 2, spoke about the impact which will be felt by the people and wildlife if the lake disappears, he recalled and thanked the Governor for speaking sense.
Saying that formulation of a comprehensive law is crucial to conserve Loktak Lake, Rajen added that protection of the freshwater lake requires strong political will.
This present Act will not be able to protect Loktak Lake, he added.
Rajen also urged the Government to carry out the demarcation exercise of Loktak Lake as soon as possible.
Champu Khangpok, the floating village in Loktak Lake was recognised as a Census Village in 1991, he continued and maintained that the villagers don't receive much benefits of the Government schemes.
There was an issue of misappropriation of Rs 20 lakh sanctioned for the floating village under Prime Minister Adarsh Gram Yojana last year, he further said and maintained that they have written a number of complaints to the authorities concerned to probe the matter but no tangible response has been given till date.
He said that they will not now approach the Prime Minister Office and the Ministry concerned to ascertain the whereabouts of the fund sanctioned for the village.