The World Environment Day 2017: Loktak Ema Laments

Mamta Lukram *

The World Environment Day 2017: Loktak Ema Laments

Overwhelming enthusiasm leads all the way long to participate 'The World Environment Day 2017,' observation at Loktak Wetland. Swayed in the wave of the sparkling water, the traditional wooden boats sweep across the core of the lake, where small floating huts could be seen scattered along the heart, detached from one another, yet floating in cohort. The introspecting-self grappled developing a topographic silhouette of the lake and its surrounding- the forest, hillocks, islands, villages, floating parks and so on, sitting vaguely on the boat, trickling the calm surface.

Attempting to recollect the number of development projects, all proposed and planned over the Loktak; my seniors' matter of frequent discussion- the Oil exploration and Drilling Plan at Loktak, the Keibul Lamjao National Park expansion plan, the World Largest Floating Solar Power Plan at Loktak, the Loktak Ring Road, the Integrated Fishery projects, the Cable Car Network Plan, the Tourism Expansion, Privatisation of the Loktak, the Core Zone, Buffer Zone, the NHPC's Ithai Dam submerging thousand acres of land, the underperforming lift irrigation canals of NHPC etc, etc, jerked my intuition into endless confusion.

"SAVE NATURE SAVE OUR FUTURE," was the theme of the observation, organised by The All Loktak Lake Areas Fishermen's Union Manipur (ALLAFUM), at the Longol Sabi, Champu Khangpok village of Loktak Lake, with the praxis of emphasising the need to conserve and preserve the Loktak wetland ecology. The side banners with capital red letters on the white background "DECOMMISSION ITHAI BARRAGE OF THE 105 MW LOKTAK, GO BACK NHPC, STOP PLUNDER OF LOKTAK WETLAND" and "STOP OIL EXPLORATIO IN LOKTAK WETLAND" decode more intrinsic meanings of the observation.

Prominent personalities, eminent activists, artist, media, researchers, academician and fishing community filled the little floating elementary school located at the core zone of the Loktak Lake, a 'no development zone' where human habitation is forbidden according to the Loktak Protection Act, 2006. The striking key of the opening remark was the commemoration of the traumatic experiences, the Loktak fishing community have been subjected to, during the forceful eviction of the floating huts during 2011, under the said act.

The quality deliberations revolve around the contestations of interests between the public's conception/perception and the Government's expectation. Positivistic outlook contends that environment degradation has become a parcel of human civilization, but the advancement of science and technology has devised successful intervention against the challenges poise by environment degradation. One noted personality even contentedly quoted that "Had NHPC's Loktak Project not been there, the lake's existence may not have been apprised by people"

Another prominent personality critiqued how the NHPC have been responsible for depleting the lake environment for decades. Neither the DPR, nor the MOU of NHPC is available till date since the last 25 years of its operation. Unaccountability reels high in NHPC. It has destroyed the Aesthetic entirety, both the tangible and intangible, the lives and culture of the people. Nevertheless, the collectivity unanimously agreed that Loktak environment is fast depleting during the past few decades, which bear direct and indirect impacts- both physically and psychologically, since the lake has immense socio-economic importance in the lives of people of Manipur.

The World Environment Day 2017: Loktak Ema Laments

Interacting the 'Imas': Beyond the Observation

Beyond the realm of the observation, interacting the womenfolk decipher the reality. Their participation was maximal, filled with the sense of responsibility. The interaction started with few women, evolving into in a small group, all expressing their frustration in a row. Meishnam Promo, ignites the conversation;

"Hainingbadi yamkhrajatni…(meaning…have lots say), Though we survive from the lake's resources, it's not solely the fishing populace, harvesting the wetland's benefits, whether its fish, vegetables or whatever resource we collect, we sell it at the markets to make our living. It's the people beyond this lake who are harnessing the prime benefits. (….alleging as if I was responsible…in a disheartening expression…) Then why you the people want to dismantle and burn down our floating huts??? Do you conceive of fishing community as ignorant and arrogant that we want to destroy the ecology of our own 'Loktak Ema' (Mother Loktak). Please do convey the responsible authorities that we the indigenous fishing community do treasure 'Loktak Ema' more than our lives…she is our life…she is our children's and grandchildren's future….."

The womenfolk shared many of their hardships and trauma. One after another, the women joined the informal interaction, sharing the haunting traumas afflicted by the aggressive eviction during the 2011, and their frustration over the recent information on the renewal of the same 'Loktak Protection Act, 2006.'; Later, Heishnam Chaoba, 52 years, shared her experience

"Thousands of we the fishing community lost our homes, our world and our lives during the whole eviction drive during 2011, where more than 700 huts have been burnt down. Nowhere left to go, (…a breaking voice…."saijin-sayada tangduna, uchek-wayadouna"…) like birds we fled from our burnt huts and seek refuge at our relative's huts which were not yet gulped by 2006, Act. Our solidarity and resistance have been protecting the few huts left and slowly we resettled and thus the number increases. We resisted at the risk of our lives and will ever, we will put to bargain, our lives"

The narratives of the women, projecting life as ordeal like situation portray how insecure must be the lives subjected under such disoriented, chaotic situations.

The Reality Check of Loktak Ecology Protection: The Hiyang Khong Experience

At a recent visit at Hiyang Khong, of Laphupat Tera area, on the recent Keibul Lamjao National Park extension plan which will shatter the village, the villagers express great discontentment regarding the framing up of new policies without discussing the people. As expressed by the villagers, the Soibupat and Khoibupat inhabitants have been surviving solely on the lake's resources since time immemorial. The construction and the commissioning of the Ithai Barrage have plundered the villager's means of sustenance.

Village elders shared their experiences how many indigenous fish varieties diminishes at the verge of extinction due to the Dam. According to them, the quantum of the fish available in the lake ecology is fast depleting, and they shared critical concern over how this degradation possess threat on the loss of food sovereignty for the villagers. The multiple impacts out of the Ithai Dam in Loktak Lake, and the NHPC's unaccountability and false promises have been plundering the lives of the indigenous communities.

On Development and Oja Soyam Lokendrajit's Epilogue

Days later, Oja Soyam Lokendrajit was delivering an insightful lecture endeavouring to unwrap the myth and riddles of the development debate, development's impacts on the identity of the indigenous community. He quoted of the indigenous community's identity as "thamnathakta happa liklagummi," unpredictable enough like the droplets over the lotus leaf.

According to him, the ongoing Trans Asian Railways construction works needs an efficient check mechanism. The framework of 'connectivity' in the name of economic boost through the 'act east policy' was put to the critical lens as; 'we are and were not isolated, we have been in global dialogue.' We need to monitor the height of safe modalities for the indigenous communities in such policies for many reasons. The Quotes from the Epilougue reads as;

"Our Dream is, we want development in our own way, by our own hands, through materials and social forces generated from within ourselves. Our fear is, to be lectured on nationalism and patriotism- only to be branded as anti-nationals. Our hope is, one day the world will know that we also love our motherland in our own way, no less than any other counterparts elsewhere…………………. Money and development is our fear, for, they are ways of seduction, the song of sirens. Our hope is, we still have simple goodness left in us to fight evil forces projecting thousand images"

The meaning of the lines lay the epitaph of reinterpreting the 'development model' for the indigenous community which must not be antagonistic, but adhere to the hopes and aspirations of the marginalised community.

Conclusion:

The heart wrenching life episodes shared by the womenfolk of fishing community stamped emotions so numb that I strive against my limited knowledge and skill to bring it out. The ordeal like situation which they have gone through must have made these little hearts into high spirits. Ima Chaoba's story;

"We starved and resist because we can't think of going beyond the periphery of the lake to trade the products, in the dire fear of the LDA coming to destroy our huts anytime…they come well feed and all full…and we fight with empty stomach…with our passion…."

Bewildered and all blurred in the glass ceiling understanding about development, I go through again the lines of The United Nation (UN) Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing, as "The right of every woman, man, youth and child to gain and sustain a safe and secure home and community in which to live in peace and dignity'