Manipur govt orders floating homestays off Loktak; Locals demand rollback

Source: The post is based on the article “Manipur govt orders floating homestays off Loktak; Locals demand rollback” published in Down To Earth on 29th July 2022.

What is the News?

Loktak Lake Authority of Manipur has recently issued a notice to remove all floating houses and fishing structures on Loktak Lake.

What is Loktak Lake?

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What is the issue?

Loktak Lake is a Ramsar Site.It is also listed on the Montreux Record.

There has been an exponential rise in the number of athaphums (circular fish culture ponds) and houses (homestays) on the phumdis (floating organic mass) of the lake. This has put the lake at risk, impacting the natural environment adversely.

Moreover, there has also been a sharp reduction in fish production and the traditional fisheries due to the Ithai barrage that was constructed in 1983.

Due to this, the Loktak Lake Authority has issued a notice to remove all floating houses and fishing structures on Loktak Lake.

Note: Manipur Government is trying to rejuvenate the ecological condition of Loktak lake and delist it from the Montreux record.

What is a Montreux Record?

The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference. It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.

Currently, two wetlands of India are in Montreux record: Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) and Loktak Lake (Manipur).

Chilka lake (Odisha)was placed in the record but was later removed from it.