Loktak, Kangla Projects to face PIL (Public Interest Litigation)
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 04 2012: All India Lawyers' Union (AILU), State unit is all set to file a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) in the High Court challenging the Government of Manipur's ongoing projects of Loktak Lake clean-up and development/renovation of historical structures inside Kangla.

Speaking to newspersons today at Lamphel, State Unit AILU convenor advocate P Tomcha Meitei contended that due to absence of rule of law, Manipur has been reduced to a state of anarchy.

Stating there are several issues which the general public do not accord much importance, he listed Loktak Lake and Kangla development projects as two standout issues which the Government of Manipur had been exploiting under the pretext of development.

Inspite of Kangla being declared as a protected area under the Manipur Ancient & Historical Monument and Archaeological Sites & Remain Act 1976, the present Government issued an order on January 1, 2004 under which Kangla Fort is being transformed into a Park, Tomcha said while expressing that development of Kangla as a park will amount to diluting sanctity of the historic and sacred site.

While the first Act entailed preservation of Kangla, the latter order of the Government suggests that Kangla would be developed as a component of modern town planning, the AILU functionary explained and stated that the Government order superseding the Act with regard to a single particular location is itself a violation of prescribed norms.

Demanding an explanation from the Government on how Kangla, already declared as a protected area could be declared into a scheme area, he also asked as to whether public notification was issued for transforming Kangla into a scheme area.

With regard to a power sub-station set-up inside Kangla, Tomcha contended that no development work that pose threat to protected sites/structures should be undertaken.

A religious site should be developed or protected to safeguard its sanctity with prescribed regulation also clearly mentioning that no building construction should be taken up at a protect site, maintained the advocate.

On various projects being initiated by the Government in and around the Loktak Lake, he said as the region's largest fresh-water lake has already been recognised as a wetland by the RAMSAR Commission development projects that threaten existence of the Keibul Lamjao national Park should be scrapped immediately.

Pointing out that construction of Ithai Barrage is threatening protected animal species, including the endangered Sangais of Keibul Lamjao National Park, Tomcha said unsuitable development projects in Loktak Lake has transformed the water body into a water reservoir.

As the Loktak Protection Act envisions protection of the water body, handing over the Late to National Hydro Power Corporation Ltd is a violation of the Act, said the advocate while expressing that ongoing project of clearing the floating biomass (Phumdis) from the Lake will ultimately endanger survival of the Sangais, whose natural habitat is on the floating biomass.

The clean-up project is also an affront to the RAMSAR Commission as well as amounts to mocking sentiment of the Manipuri people, he said and confided that AILU would air its concern to the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment.

apart from complaining to the Ministry, State Unit AILU would file a PIL against the Government of Manipur's ongoing projects at Kangla and Loktak Lake on the ground that the projects are causing environmental pollution, disturbing ecological balance and posing threat to historical monuments/sites, added the convenor.

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