Imphal, June 10 2009: Out of 155 lakes that mother nature had endowed Manipur with, 136 had been dried up causing major changes in the climatic conditions of the state.

According to data collected by the Environment and Ecology Wing, Government of Manipur, only 19 lakes still remain in the state.

However, nine of these 19 lakes are also on the brink of vanishing.

The lakes that still remain are Pumlen (Khoidum) Pat (lake), Ekop (Kharung) Pat, Loushi Pat, Waithou (Punnem) Pat, Aongbeekhong Pat, Ushoipokpi Pat, Sana Pat, Utra Pat, Tankha Pat, Kharam Pat, Lamphel Pat, Jailet Pat, Jeimeng Pat and Loktak Pat.

But Lamphel Pat, Kharam Pat, Tankha Pat, Utra Pat and Sana Pat are lakes only in name, physically they are almost vanished (dried up).

Official sources said, there are records with the Environment and Ecology Wing that there were once 155 lakes in Manipur.

However, the only lake that is officially recognised as a lake by the National Lake Conservation Programme (NLCP) under Ministry of Environtment and Forest, Government of India is the Loktak Lake.

The other lakes are not recognised as lakes by the NLCP.

Therefore the state has not been able to get funds from the Centre for improving these lakes.

On the changes that had come about in the climate of Manipur, experts informed this newspaper that 20 years ago, no one had ever expected that the maximum temperature of the state would reach 330C.The summer season then was also very short.

Therefore, Manipur used to be known as a land that remain cold throughout the year.

The experts further said, the maximum temperature of Manipur had never reached 250C 20 years back.

The rate of rainfall then was also quite good and there used to be rainfall almost every month.

Today the maximum temperature in April and May has reached 330C.Moreover there is no rainfall for months together.

The experts said, the climate has changed for worse due to the fact that most of the lakes that used to exist in the hills and the valley had dried up and that the forests had been destroyed.

lakes like Lamphel Pat, Porompat, Akampat and Yaralpat used to play a major role in maintaining the climate of Imphal.

But today Lamphel Pat cannot be considered a lake at all.

Likewise Porompat and Yaralpat are also only in name.

Since so many invaluable lakes had disappeared, the imbalance in the climate came about.

Besides, as there are no lakes into which the drains used to flow, flood occurs in most parts of Imphal city when even a little rain falls.

Because of these factors, there arises the problem of scarcity of drinking water, the experts opined.

In order to prevent the worsening climatic condition in the state, the Government of Manipur has started taking up measures to revive the dried lakes.

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