LDA for demarcation of Loktak Lake
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 24 2020: The Loktak Development Authority (LDA) has strongly advocated for proper demarcation of Loktak Lake, the biggest fresh water lake in North East India which is also a Ramsar Site.

LDA Project Director L Bhagatton and a team of media persons today made an assessment of the existing condition of Loktak Lake and the migratory birds which are currently taking shelter in the lake.

Bhagatton said that no one will be able to say the exact area of Loktak Lake 10 years from now if the lake is not properly demarcated.

As per the Loktak Protection Act 2006, the total area of Loktak is 236.31 square Kms including 70 square Kms of core zone.

However, cases of encroachment within the lake have been rising and some have even obtained pattas clandestinely for areas located within the lake, said the LDA Project Director.

He said that more and more fish farms were set up within the lake during dry season.

Informing that a survey was started and stopped midway, Bhagatton said that the issue of encroachment can be settled effectively if the line departments, particularly Revenue Department work together with the LDA.

After the Loktak Protection Act 2006 came into force, all the huts built on phumdis as well as thick phumdis were removed from the lake in 2011-12.He went on to claim that people who are currently staying at huts built on phumdis within the lake have their own houses elsewhere.

Appealing to all the occupants to vacate the phumdi huts and keep the lake clean, the LDA Project Director said that new huts can be protected and managed under PPP model.

Regarding the declaration of Champu Khangpok as a polling station, Bhagatton said that they wrote to the Election Commission citing clauses of the Loktak Protection Act after they learnt about the declaration from media reports.

However, LDA has not received the particular notification which declared Champu Khangpok as a polling station, he said.

Unlike in the past, Loktak Lake is no longer covered with water plants and phumdis.

The quality of water has also improved.

The LDA Project Director said that the MLAs who are representing seven Assembly segments adjoining Loktak Lake have big responsibilities in preserving the lake.

The media team came across many phumdi huts which have been constructed newly.

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