Experts inspect Loktak Lake
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 08 2016: With the primary objective of making a direct assessment of the several measures taken up for conservation of Loktak Lake and enumerate steps to be initiated for declaration of the lake as a UNESCO World Heritage site, a four-member team of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development today visited the lake.

Speaking to media persons in the course of the inspection trip, GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Sikkim unit in-charge Dr HK Badhola remarked that Loktak Lake is closely associated with the history of Manipur.

The uniqueness of the lake should be preserved and people who are dependent on the lake should have free access to it but the relationship between the lake and the local people should not disturb the lake's eco-system.

The uniqueness of Loktak Lake lies in its phumdis and the houses built over them.

The phumdis should be preserved and people dependent on the lake should be allowed to build houses on them but they should not do anything that may disturb the lake's eco-system or pollute its water.

The relationship between Loktak Lake and the local people should be sustainable, Dr Badhola said.

He said that they would pay due attention towards development of Loktak Lake as a major tourist destination while preserving its unique characteristics.

He remarked that Loktak Lake has all the potential of being declared as UNESCO World Heritage site.

All stake holders viz; general public, NGOs, local clubs and Government officials should share due responsibilities in order to develop Loktak Lake as a major tourist destination while preserving its unique characteristics.

He said that their visit to the lake was aimed at making a direct assessment of the different measures taken up for preservation and conservation of Loktak Lake, identify common problems of people dependent on Loktak Lake and enumerate different steps which are required to make the lake declared as UNESCO World Heritage site.

He maintained that the beauty and uniqueness of Loktak Lake lie in its numerous phumdis and people settled on them.

He said that they would submit a report to the Ministry highlighting several steps and measures required for preservation of Loktak Lake and declaration of the lake as a world heritage site.

LDA Project Director L Bhagaton said that Rs 184 crore has been utilized so far out of Rs 224 crore sanctioned for removal of phumdis from Loktak Lake.

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