Imphal, July 29: A community environmental awareness campaign on the theme "Save Loktak" was held today at Thanga Heisnam community hall under the joint aegis of the Centre for Sustainable society and Thanga Artistes' Association.

The campaign sponsored by the Loktak Development Authority (LDA), Manipur Development Society and Environment and Ecology Wing is being supported by the Loktak Hydro Electric Project and the Forest and Wild Life Department.

Addressing the awareness programme, LDA Project Director Ch Gojendra said that cleansing of floating bio-mass (phoomdi) is a part of the management action plan formulated by LDA to preserve Loktak lake.

Following phenomenal increase in phoomdi covered surface during 1989 to 2002-03, almost 80 percent of the total surface area of Loktak has been covered with phoomdis today.

Earlier, the thick phoomdis could not be cleansed.

However, the LDA has taken up effective phoomdi clearance exercise since last year after some fund was provided by the North Eastern Council, Gojendra said.

Even though thick phoomdis were cultured and grown earlier on seasonal basis, such bio-mass have become permanent features following perennial inundation.

Taking serious note of the ever increasing surface area being covered by phoomdis, efforts are being put in to clean up the phoomdis by giving Rs 13,000 for every mass of phoomdi cleared, informed Gojendra.

At present, the target of LDA is to clear 134 square kilometres of phoomdi covered areas out of the total surface area of 236.16 sq kms of the fresh water lake which is about 40 percent.

Highlighting various problems being faced by Loktak lake such as pollution of water due to massive coverage by phoomdis, encroachment, poor sanitation in the surrounding settlement areas, deforestation in catchment areas, pollution of rivers falling into the lake, practice of shifting cultivation etc, he lamented that the authorities concerned and people lack attention towards the root causes threatening the Loktak lake.

Nevertheless, he appealed to the people to cooperate with LDA in its initiative to save Loktak.

Director of Fisheries K Saratkumar recalled that the Loktak lake was continually drained by a natural process every year before establishment of the Loktak Hydro Electric Project.

During sudden increase of water level during monsoon season after the lean period, fishes laid eggs in profusion and the lake produced abundant quantity of fishes in the past.

After the Loktak Project was commissioned, more than 20,000 paris of agricultural land were submerged for good.

Even though fish production in Loktak lake declined to a great extent after construction of the Loktak lake, it enhances fish production in other lakes of Manipur, said Saratkumar.

Today's awareness programme was also attended by member of Manipur Human Rights Commission Ng Nongyai, national youth awardee O Maipakchao, Chief Engineer of Loktak Hydro Electric Project M Lalmani, director of IBSD Dr M Ruhinikumar, Head of Chemistry Department Manipur University Prof N Rajmohon, Planning Director K Mangi, secretary in-charge of AMWJU Y Biren and senior scientific officer of EEW Dr M Homeshwar as chief guest, president and guests of honour.

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