Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 27 2010:
Loktak Hydro-electric Power Project should be abandoned before vanishing of Loktak Lake as the highly deteriorated condition of the lake witness today is the outcome of the project, opined environmental and political activist, Moirangthem Ashinikumar.
Briefing media persons on Friday at Thanga in Bishnupur district, Ashinikumar observed that the condition of the Loktak Lake is alarmingly deteriorated and people are asking question of survival of the lake for the past few years.
Loktak Project has been giving a great impact to the natural and environmental condition of the lake.
As per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Manipur government and Central government in 1981-82, the project targeted a production of 105 MW and the project will provide electricity at the rate of 75 paisa to Re 1 to Manipur.
But in total contrast with it, the project had submerged around 50,000 paris of paddy fields in the surrounding of the lake.
The National Hydro-electricity has not compensated to affected people even though compensations were paid to the land affected by the Thoubal project and other mega projects in the state.
In this prevailing situation, Manipur government must review the project as per the national environment policy of 1986 a project which affect the environment can be abandoned.
Keeping this in mind, the project should be reviewed and steps to abandon the same should be taken up immediately, he opined.