PFA urges Govt to discuss decommissioning of LHEP at Assembly session
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 30 2024: Citing detrimental effects of the Loktak Hydro Electric Project on Loktak lake and its ecosystem, People for Animals (PFA), Manipur, has urged State legislators to consider decommissioning the project at the State Assembly session set to commence from tomorrow.

The Loktak Hydro Electric Project (LHEP) was commissioned in 1983 and it has been operating without an environmental clearance for many decades.

The renovation and modernization efforts of the LHEP to extend its functionality by another 25 years only spells destruction for the State of Manipur, said a press release issued by L Biswajeet Meitei Managing Trustee, PFA Manipur.

Adding that the renovation and modernization of LHEP will not reduce the environmental concerns associated with the Project, PFA also pointed but that it has an installed capacity of 105 mega watt generated by three 35 MW units.

Out of this, only 35 MW are consumed in Manipur while the rest are sold to other states, said PFA.

Moreover, Manipur has been purchasing power from the national grid to meet the needs of the public.

Hence, purchasing the entire State's power requirements from the national grid will not make much of difference, maintained PFA.

Though this would mean higher power tariffs, PDA asserted that it will help save the Loktak lake, Sangai, a variety of birds, many species of fish from extinction.

Additionally, it will reduce the effects of climate change in the State such as the recent cases of severe flooding."PFA further stressed on the deposit of silt caused by Ithai Barrage which adversely affected the Loktak wetlands.

This in turn leads to inundation of peripheral areas.

Waste materials brought down by the flow of rivers also poses a serious threat to the Loktak lake.

Hydroelectric projects in other states follow post clearance monitoring and mitigation measures which help keep a check on the damaging impacts' and reduce them.

Thus, PFA has urged the State Government to deliberate over the decommissioning of LHEP at the upcoming Assembly session.

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