The Loktak Development Authority (LDA), government of Manipur, has made an appeal to the Central government for a comprehensive review of the Loktak Hydel Project in view of the serious concerns raised over the long-term environmental and socio-economic impact of the project that was commissioned in 1984.
LDA chairman M Asnikumar Singh made the appeal to Union Power, New and Renewable Energy Minister RK Singh. Copies of the appeal were sent to the Prime Minister's Office in New Delhi and the Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry.
The appeal emphasizes the significance of Loktak Lake, which holds immense cultural, traditional, and economic importance in Manipur, apart from its ecological value.
The Loktak Lake serves as a vital water source for irrigation and household use. It has played a pivotal role in the socio-economic fabric of the region for centuries.
The appeal also highlighted the following key concerns:
1. The need to consider changes in hydrological patterns that have developed over the past 39 years
2. Address the deteriorating ecology of Loktak Lake and its catchment area
3. Mitigate the impact on the socio-economic conditions of the communities dependent on the lake and its associated wetlands.
The importance of a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) that addresses these concerns were also emphasized in the appeal, which proposes adequate financial provisions for effective implementation of necessary measures.
In the appeal letter, the chairman stresses that the rehabilitation and modernization of the Loktak Hydel Project by NHPC Ltd must prioritize sustainability, the wellbeing of local communities, and public interest.
The cultural, traditional, and economic importance of Loktak Lake to Manipur is immeasurable, making it a collective responsibility to protect and preserve this invaluable natural resource for future generations.
In response to the appeal, Sanjeev Sanyal, member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, reached out to the chairman and managing director of NHPC Ltd Faridabad (Haryana) with a letter emphasizing the lake's importance for Manipur and as a national heritage site on August 11, 2023.
Furthermore, in response to the appeal, the Wetland Division of the Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry has made reference to the directive given to NHPC regarding prior approval from the ministry for the proposed modernization of the Loktak Hydel Project.
This directive was conveyed through a letter dated May 5, 2023, to the chairman-cum-managing director, NHPC Ltd. Faridabad (Haryana).
As a result, the Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry has directed necessary action to be taken promptly and apprised the LDA chairman with intimation to the Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry, in a letter sent on September 9, 2023.
The chairman said that such development underscores the commitment of both the state and Union government authorities in safeguarding Loktak Lake and its vital role in Manipur's heritage and the nation's natural legacy for future generations. (DIPR)
