LDA announces approval of Integrated Management Plan for Loktak Lake
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 19 2024:
Loktak Development Authority (LDA) has announced the approval of an Integrated Management Plan (IMP) for Loktak Lake, a collaborative effort between Wetlands International South Asia (WISA) and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee.
The IMP has secured endorsement from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, under the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems.
The approval letter was presented to Chairman of LDA M Asnikumar Singh, during a meeting with senior officials of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in New Delhi.
The IMP will focus on key areas, including land and water management; species conservation and habitat management, and sustainable resource develop- ment and livelihood among others.
It also encompasses various actions such as delisting Loktak Lake from the Montreux Record, integrated wetland inventory, assessment and monitoring system, constitution of a scientific advisory, implementation of water allocation plan, rejuvenation of the natural drainage system, removing phumdis, improving water quality, afforestation in the catchment area, consolidating Keibul Lamjao National Park boundaries, eco-development, developing wetland link cultural heritage, identifying fish breeding grounds and enhancing community livelihoods among others.