Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh held a high-level meeting at his secretariat on October 3. The agenda focused on saving Loktak Lake and the Phumlenpat wetland from mounting environmental threats. The site currently sits on the Montreux Record, a list of endangered Ramsar wetlands. Officials face a hard task.
The government aims to boost water quality and stop silt buildup. They plan to restore forest cover across catchment areas while clearing streams that feed the basin. Managing phumdis, the floating biomass cluttering the water, remains a top priority. They discussed removing these masses from Phumlenpat as well.
Chief Secretary Rajeev Singh Thakur joined Art, Culture and Tourism Minister Kh Loken and several MLAs to hash out the strategy. The Loktak Development Authority also provided input. The group examined proposed changes to the Manipur Loktak Lake Protection Act of 2006. The law needs an update.
State leaders want to turn the lake into a tourist hub. They intend to pair this growth with new livelihood programs for people living along the shore. They even weighed a proposal to make Loktak Day an official state festival. "The meeting also considered making Loktak Day an official state festival to increase public awareness," the report noted. The officials hope this drives local support for the lake.
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