Loktak boundary committee formed
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, November 02 2022:
With the constitution of an Empowered Committee as per the state cabinet's decision to demarcate the exact boundary of Loktak lake, notice has been served to evict encroachers from the lake including residential houses and fish farms.
As per an order issued by the Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department, demarcation of the boundary of 236.21 square kilometres of Loktak lake is required to secure a mega project for the lake from Asian Development Bank.
The Committee will not only identify illegally constructed houses, unauthorised fish farms in Loktak lake and all activities within the buffer zone but will also have the power to evict the encroachers.
The PHE minister will be the chairman of the newly constituted Empowered Committee while fisheries minister, water resources minister and LDA chairman M Asnikumar are members of the committee.
Other members of the committee are chief conservator of forests, additional DGP, law commissioner, revenue secretary, fisheries secretary, DCs of Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching and Imphal West districts, DFOs of Thoubal, Churachandpur and Bishnupur, director (environment and climate change) and director (settlement and records) while LDA project director will be convener of the committee.
The Committee will also identify catchment areas of Loktak lake as well as areas covered by other water bodies including Pumlen Pat and rivers flowing into the lake and take up necessary action.
The committee shall submit a report containing its activities including demarcation and eviction processes to the chief minister within three months.