CM soothes evicted Loktak dwellers
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 18 2011: Despite coming under severe criticism for dismantling dwelling huts built on the floating biomass of Loktak Lake, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh reached out to the affected fishing community with the assurance that efforts are on to provide alternative shelter homes to the displaced families.

speaking at the 'one-day block level special training programme on the flagship schemes and other schemes of UPA and SPF Government' at Moirang Khunou Mamang Sabal ground under Thanga Assembly Constituency as the chief guest today the Chief Minister, however, declared that the shelter homes would be provided only to those families who have no other place to live in.

While conveying that the Government fully understands the sentiment of the fishing community affected by the eviction drive, he explained that to prevent further pollution of the Loktak Lake huts built on the floating biomass of the lake had to be removed.

Maintaining that as Loktak Lake belongs to the entire people of Manipur interest of only the fishing community cannot be considered, the Chief Minister also explained that for preserving the largest fresh-water body in the region, the Loktak Development Authority on the instruction of the Planning Commission of India, Government of India executed the eviction drive.

Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh inaugurates the Thanga event

Pointing out that construction of houses/huts on the Loktak Lake is illegal, he also clarified that there is no restriction on fishing activities in the lake, which is facing gradual pollution not by rivers carrying waste materials into the lake but also due to improper disposal of wastes of various kinds by settlers numbering over 1000 families.

Moreover, Planning Commission officials who surveyed condition of the lake disapproved continuous human settlement in the lake in addition to expressing displeasure on the State Government's lenient approach to remove the Lake settlers, conceded the Chief Minister.

Claiming that circumstances compelled launch of the eviction drive, Ibobi also referred to compensation package of Rs 40,000 to each of the family, compared to financial provision of only Rs 35,000 under Indira Awaz Yojana, as a testimony that the Government of Manipur is determined to ameliorate suffering of the people.

Explaining that prior information was given to all the settlers to voluntarily dismantle the huts or remove their personal belongings, the CM said the eviction team burnt only abandoned huts and some waste materials discovered on the floating biomass.

On the Govt's effort to preserve the lake, he said people settled in the periphery of the important water body of Manipur were encouraged to use septic tank at homes instead of draining domestic wastes into the lake.

Continuous efforts are on to plant and preserve trees in the catchment areas of Loktak Lake with similar initiative taken up to maintain the vegetation inside Keibul Lamjao National Park in order to ensure that the Sangai (brow antlered deer) population continuous flourish, affirmed the CM.

describing rearing of fishes by grooming the floating biomass as outdated and detrimental on the longevity of Loktak Lake, he proposed that the fishing community consult fishery department officials or utilise multi-purpose boats/canoes to sustain their livelihood in an eco-friendly manner.

Not ruling out possibility of amending the Loktak Protection Act, which the local MLA had also strongly proposed, as well as confiding the Government's initiative to provide training on the modern method of fishing, Ibobi urged all concerned that there is no plan to evict the entire population of Thanga and Ithing.

While affirming the Government's determination to transform Loktak Lake to the most popular tourist site along with development of water supply schemes with the lake as the source, he informed that a Rs 4 crore project for developing a four-lane road and setting up of a primary health sub-centre at Karang are also being worked out.

Chief whip of the SPF Government and Thanga AC MLA T Mangibabu, who also addressed the gathering cautioned that some politicians had been spreading false rumours that fishing activities would be restricted and the entire population of Thanga and Ithing would be relocated.

Assuring that the Government is committed to safeguarding interest of the locals whose main source of income generation is fishing, he also drew the attention of the Chief Minister for more development initiative in Thanga assembly constituency.

Works Minister K Ranjit and MLA M Prithviraj were also present at the occasion.