Centre urged to okay Loktak Action Plan
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 20 2022: Newly appointed Loktak Development Authority (LDA) chairman M Asnikumar met Union minister for environment, forest and climate change Bhupender Yadav and sought the approval of Loktak Lake Management Action Plan.

During their meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday, Asnikumar along with LDA's PD & S apprised the Union minister about issues being faced in management of Loktak lake saying the fresh water body needs to be preserved for the present as well as future generations as also on Loktak Lake Management Action Plan.

The LDA chairman also made clear that 'Loktak, Manipur Integrated Management Plan for Conservation and Wise Use, 2020 -25' has been given approval by Manipur government and urged the Union minister to approve the plan and take up necessary actions.

The LDA chairman also presented a painting of Loktak Lake to Bhupender Yadav and the latter assured of extending all possible help from the ministry for preserving Loktak lake.

The main objective of Loktak Lake Management Action Plan is to keep intact ecological integrity of Loktak lake apart from giving benefits to people.

The plan also has policy to keep intact ecosystem services and biodiversity values without distorting land, water resources and development planning.

Components of the management plan include institutions and governance, catchment conservation, habitat management, ecotourism management, eco-tourism development, sustainable fisheries development and community livelihood.

According to Asnikumar, the management plan has been recommended by IIT Roorkee and it also has re-organisation of LDA, boundary demarcation, integrated wetland inventory assessment and monitoring, research, capacity development, communication and outreach and review of management plan implementation.

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