Loktak clean-up drive: Scapegoating soft targets
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: July 20, 2022 -

IT seems that the notification issued by Loktak Development Authority (LDA) on Monday for removal of specially designed ringed floating biomass to rear fish, huts of fishers and homestay facilities set up on the floating biomass (Phumdi) in the Loktak Lake wouldn’t go down well with the local fishing community for whom the lake has been the main source of livelihood since time immemorial.

Moreover, the notification setting 15 days’ deadline to vacate from the largest fresh water body in the northeast region is akin to inviting another bout of agitation as similar eviction drives carried out years back continue to draw flaks even today.

As per the notification issued by LDA project director L Bhagaton Singh, there has been exponential rise in the number of man-made floating biomass, home stays and huts constructed on the Phumdi consequently hindering the state government’s efforts to restore the ecological balance of the Loktak Lake.

There is no doubt that existence of excessive structures for human habitation and attracting the tourists would abet degeneration of the lake but with the water body reckoned as the state’s main tourist destination, it is but natural that the local populace as well as non-native business-minded individuals would be enticed to seize any opportunity that comes their way.

Moreover, with the establishment unable to properly tap the huge tourism potential of the lake it is obvious that there would be more than a handful of individuals who would want to take advantage of the situation.

While all initiatives taken up by the government to prevent over-exploitation of the lake and protect the environment are worth appreciation, it is hard to digest that huts built by the fishing community and their settlement are the only causes for degeneration of condition of Loktak Lake if one takes note of the fact that construction of the Ithai barrage to facilitate operation of the Loktak Hydro Electric Project is being cited as the main threat to existence of the water body from different quarters.

For instance, the present regime had assured of conveying the people’s desire for decommissioning of the Ithai Barrage to the Union government, when the BJPled government was in the nascent stage of formation and the state faced repeated flooding.

In fact, a record of sort was created when the BJP became the first party in power in a north-eastern state to ask for a dam to be decommissioned.

Consequent to submergence of vast tract of agricultural and residential areas, breach of river banks and irreparable loss caused to fish farmers when flooding occurred thrice in quick succession soon after formation of the new coalition government in 2017, even the state BJP leadership joined the public’s chorus against the continued operation of the barrage and mooted decommissioning of hydroelectric project.

Thus, it is questionable whether construction of tiny huts by the economically underprivileged fishing community or the Ithai barrage is causing more damage to the lake, especially in the context of environmentalists pointing out that blocking of the natural cleansing process by the Ithai structure has been choking outflow of pollutants and consequently making the lake’s bed shallower.

It is also worth noting that more than a decade back massive drive was launched to evict the fishers from the floating biomass of the Loktak Lake on the ground that settlement of the fishing community polluted the water body.

As there has been no significant improvement in the lake’s condition, one can’t help but suspect that the latest order is only a cover-up for failure to prevent inflow of toxic materials into the lake by the highly polluted Nambul and other rivers.

As such, in the same way laws enacted to preserve the Loktak Lake are being vigorously enforced to the extent of curtailing livelihood activities of the fishers it is desired that the promises made and projects launched for regeneration of the lake are expeditiously translated into action rather than waiting for the next election to make boisterous claims.