Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 08, 2010::
Loktak People's Forum has claimed that Manipur Loktak Lake (Protection) Act 2006 must be amended as the Act robs means of livelihood to hundreds of people depending on Loktak Lake.
Forum President Heisnam Brojen told reporters at Yambem Jupiter Centre said that the Act passed in 2006 divides the lake into two zones as Core and Buffer.
The Act prohibits people from entering into the Core Zone which tantamount to snatching means of livelihood of hundreds of people living, he added.
Brojen said the Act also prohibits fixing of bamboo poles and fishing nets in the lake without which fishing is not possible at all.
With regard to the ongoing phumdi clearance works, Brojen said cutting and pushing off of atha-phums have been completed and cleaning of floating phumdis are in progress.
He said flushing out of floating phumdis would disturb natural eco-system of the lake as many flora and fauna found on the phumdis would vanish.
Many birds living on the phumdis would be homeless, Brojen added.
Saying that Loktak Lake has a close relation with the phumdis, Brojen said that it is the part of the overall eco-system of the lake.
Maintaining that these floating biomasses naturally cleans up lake Brojen said that floating phumdis must flow away with water on its own.
In order to retain this natural system, sluice gates of Ithai Barrage must be kept open, Brojen suggested.