Manipur Names Kharungpat Wetland Its Eighth Wildlife Sanctuary

Imphal: Manipur officials designated the Kharungpat wetland as the state's eighth wildlife sanctuary. The site sits 35 kilometers south of Imphal in the Kakching district. It spans 227 hectares. This makes it the third-largest freshwater lake in the state, trailing only Loktak and Pumlen.

The government issued the notification under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. They want to stop the drop in migratory bird counts. Last year, the wetland hosted 69 bird species. Nearly 40 percent of those birds traveled the Central Asian Flyway.

Local MLA Usham Deben Singh pushed for the move alongside several community groups. These include the Keirak United Development Association and the South Tentha Youth Development Organisation. Officials praised the broad community push behind the legal status.

The state government dubbed the new protected zone a "people's project" that relies on community participation. The Forest Department plans to turn the area into an eco-tourism hub. They will form an Eco-Development Committee to keep the land protected while supporting local jobs.