Proposed Loktak ring road :: Take our consent first : Affected folks
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 05 2023: A section of people has urged the State Government to take consent from the affected populace before taking up any initiative to draw a boundary for ring road construction in the adjacent areas of Loktak Lake.

They also said that the Government must not use force in any endeavour which aims to protect Loktak Lake.

Today, a public discussion programme was held at Oinam Mamang Leikai near Water Supply in the attendance of the populace whose paddy lands, fish farms, structures would likely be affected by the construction of the proposed ring road.

One of the attendees from Khoijuman Mayai Leikai, Thoudam Herena said that the initiative taken up by the Government to build the ring road has made the people living in the adjacent areas of Loktak Lake uneasy 'as they already have been affected greatly by Ithai Barrage of Loktak Hydro Electric Project' .

Proposed Loktak ring road- Take our consent first : Affected folks

Saying that they have unanimously resolved to persuade the Government to decommission the Ithai Barrage before constructing the ring road, she added that they have already forwarded their resolution to the Governor and the Chief Minister.

Even if the construction of the ring road is very much necessary to protect Loktak Lake, the Government must hold a dialogue with the villagers first and refrain from using brute force, she demanded.

Saying that most of the people living in the adjacent areas of Loktak Lake are either fish farmers or engaged in agriculture related works, Herena further appealed to the Government to make some alternative arrangement for the affected people to earn their livelihood first before building the ring road.

She went on to claim that Ithai Barrage was constructed with a promise to generate employment, provide electricity, water for irrigation and facilitate double cropping which the Government failed to deliver.

The Government must not cut the source of livelihood of many families and understand the sentiments of the affected people while taking up the ring road project, Herena urged.

Another attendee Oinam Ibopishak from Oinam Mamang Leikai claimed that the area of Loktak Lake which was only about 100 square kilometre before the establishment of NHPC in 1983 has been increased to 236.21 square kilometre after the commissioning of the Loktak Project.

Many land areas have been submerged as NHPC increased the water volume of Loktak Lake to generate 105 Mega Watt of electricity, he claimed and alleged that many people have already lost their paddy fields due to the expansion of Loktak Lake forcing them to take up fish farming work instead.

Claiming that most fish farmers will be left empty handed if the ring road is indeed constructed without making any arrangement for the affected villagers , he appealed to the Government to decommission the Ithai Barrage first.

He also urged the Government to prepare adequate arrangements for the affected people such as compensation and places to reside before initiating the ring road project.