Loktak lake shrinks by 30 sq Kms
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 19 2012:
The total area of Loktak Lake which is the largest fresh water lake in the entire North East region has shrunk by 30 square Kms in the last 20 years.
Taking serious note of this change, Chief Minister convened a meeting today and discussed about the possible ways of saving the lake from further shrinking.
Notably, Loktak Lake has been already declared as a Ramsar site.
The meeting which was attended by MLAs of different constituencies surrounding Loktak Lake, Revenue Commissioner, Imphal West DC, Bishnupur DC, Bishnupur SP, Imphal West SP, officials and Settlement Directorate and LDA deliberated on identifying the exact boundaries of the lake.
When Loktak Lake was first declared a Ramsar site in 1990, the total area of the lake was 266 sq Kms.
But by the time when the Loktak Protection Act was enforced, its area was reduced to 236.21 sq Kms as per a map produced by LDA.
As per the map, water body of the lake is 147 sq Kms, informed an official source.
The total area of Loktak lake as indicated by the map is exclusive of Thanga, Karang, Keibul Lamjao National Park and Takmu.
At the end of the meeting, the Chief Minister directed the LDA to make a marking of the lake's exact boundaries.
Once the exact boundary is identified, Revenue Department would check out how many encroachers are there inside the lake, and how many of them hold genuine pattas.
After this, necessary measures would be taken up to protect the lake.
Notably, with the objective of preserving the lake, phumdi clearance work has been going on with monetary assistance from the Planning Commission.