The People for Animals (PFA) Manipur on Tuesday called the attention of both the Ruling and Opposition party of the state government to address the decommissioning of the Loktak Hydro power project in the monsoon assembly session.
Managing trustee of People for Animals Manipur L Biswajeet has pointed out that the Loktak Hydro power project which was commissioned in 1983 has been operating for 35 years without an environmental clearance. He claimed that the renovation and modernisation without environmental clearance to extend for 25 years will result in similar impacts as before.
He further claimed that Manipur utilised 35 megawatts (1 Unit) of the 105 megawatts (3 units) generated by the project, with the remaining 2 units sold to other states. As a result, the Loktak Project does not significantly benefit Manipur.
Biswajeet suggested that if the Loktak Project had not been established or were decommissioned, Manipur could still purchase electricity from the national grid. This alternative would be more efficient and could help protect the endangered animals of Manipur, preserve Loktak Lake, and reduce environmental degradation including climate change.
Since the project blocked the Ethai barrage, debris has altered the lake’s depth, leading to floods and other disasters. Moreover, the accumulation of garbage and plastics has worsened the lake’s degradation, adversely affecting fish and other aquatic life.
He further pointed out that hydropower projects operating in other states use post clearance monitoring and mitigation measures/cost to safeguard the lake.
Biswajeet further urged the state government to decommission the project in order to protect the environment.
