8 January Page 2

Imphal Times Supplementary issue Page 2 Editorial ThePresent healthof Loktak Lake Wenesday, January 8, 2020 of Manipur River and Khuga River. Khuga River by the Ungamel channel. emergent free floating and rooted leaf The lake is divided into two zones, The Imphal River is also linked with types. But declining trend of namely the “Core Zones”, which is this zone by the Khordak channel. vegetation and important flora are the no development zone or totally The western catchment drained by recorded. 57 species of water birds The changing concept protected zone comprising 70.3 sq.km KangsoibiRiver flows into this zone. and another 14 species of wetland and balance area is called the “Buffer Proliferation of phumdis has been associated birds have been noted in Zone”. Within the lake and on its observed near the mouth of Ungamel the lake including 28 spices of of patriotism: periphery there are 14 hills of varying channel, Kumbi Pat, Nongmaikhong migratory water fowl. Also recorded size and elevation. In the southern and Khordak area. LoktakLake is fed were 425 species of animals-249 Manipur’s perspective part of the lake are the Sendra,Ithing, by the Manipur River and several vertebrates and 176 invertebrates. The Thanga and Karang Islands. tributaries and UngamelChannel list includes rare animals such as the In the beginning of the 19th Century, different forces swept Manipur. Geographically, in terms of (IthaiBarrage) is the only outlet now. Indian Python, Sambhar and barking The fear that forces which had swept Manipur would destroy the very By: Sanjenbam Jugeshwor Singh biodiversity and human activities The origin of the Manipur river deer. KeibulLamjao national Park is the foundation of the civilisation started to grow. The seven year Faculty,NIELIT,Imphal,Akampat pressure, the lake is broadly divided system and its tributaries which flows natural habitat of one of the most devastation which occurred between 1819-1826 damaged the political into northern, central and southern in a north-south direction and drains endangered deer the brow –antlered as well as the socio political structure of Manipur and significantly oktak is the largest fresh water zones. The northern zone extends into the lake is from the hill ranges deer (Sangai) which was once thought L depleted the population. This severely affected Manipur Nation and lake in Northeast India and is from eastern side of Nambol river near immediately to the west of the lake. to be extinct. The avifauna recorded its nationalism which was developed during the 18th century. Manipur famous for phumdis in different habitats of the Lake is faced the domination of Awa and it started feeling the heat of British (heterogeneous mass of vegetation, reported to be declining. In the central colonialism during this time. Large number of people from Manipur soil and organic matter at various part of the Lake water fowl including were taken as war captives and many ran to the neighbouring countries stages of decomposition) floating dabbling duck and diving ducks are to take refugee as the Burmese wrecked havoc in Manipur. Manipur over it.The lake is located at reported but their numbers are lost its pride and political status during this time. For the first time in Moirang(Bishnupur District) around declining due to proliferation of the history we see that wars, which were fought historically to defend 40km from the capital city,Imphal of phumdis. In the habitat part of the the kings, transformed into wars to defend the country in the 19th Manipur. Theetymology of Loktak is rooted plants and others were reported century. The war fought to restore the political order during the seven Lok= stream and tak=the end. The abundant but now show a declining years devastation, the revolt under the leadership of King Chinglen largest of all the phumdis covers an trend. Small hillock( though showing Nongdren Khomba (Ghambir Singh and the guerrilla warfare waged area of 40 sq. km and is situated on degraded condition) in the lake show by Herachandra became the foundation of modern national liberation the southern shore of the lake. big trees and birds of prey such as movement. These wars fought against colonialism inspired the people Located on this phumdi, Milvus migransLineatus and Circus of Manipur. This is the first time the conception that the nation belongs KeibulLamjao National park is the aeruginosus have been recorded on to the people and people should participate in struggle for the country only floating national park in the these trees. Fish yield from the Lake is and for their freedom started emerging. world. The park is the last natural reported to be about 1500 tones every Chinglen Nongdren khomba (Gambhir singh) and Nar Singh built a refuge of the endangered Sangai( NgaikhongKhunou to Phoubakchao, Five major rivers with indirect year. Natural capture without the people’s movement by bringing in various ethnic communities together State animal) the brow-antlered deer( including MaibamPhumlok, has five catchment area 7157 sq.km are the requirement of any lease or license was at this dire juncture. Their contribution is significant in the history of Cervuseldieldi).This ancient lake play main steams/ rivers i.e Manipur, Imphal( also called Manipur river),the also in vague in the Lake. The lake Manipur. They are the leaders who fought for a free Manipur and an important role to maintain the mild Nambul,Yangoi,Nambol and Iril, the Thoubal, the Sekmai and fishing is now a mixture of capture and inspired not just a new ideal but dispel the fears that people had at climatic condition and hydrological Thongjaorok rivers flowing into the Khuga. The other major steams which culture system. The old varieties of that time. As a significant achievement, the feuds between princes cycle as well as economy of Manipur. lake. The zone is separated from the drains into the Lake and which bring the local fishes like were resolved during this time. A new thinking that we should be It also serves a source of water for central zone by large Phumdis in lot of silt are the Thongjaorok, the Ngamu,Ukabi,ngaril, Pangba ,tharak proud people of a free nation was developed at this crucial juncture. hydropower generation, irrigation and (varying thickness of 0.4 to 4.5 m) that Nambol, the Nambul, the and ngasep stated to be under serious This thinking gave a new understanding on war in this country. Given drinking water supply. The lake is also stretches from northwest to the AwangKhujairok, the AwangKharok, decline and some of them appeared to this, this very day in January has been remembered as the day of a source of livelihood for the rural southeast. During January to March the Ningthoukhong, the be extinct in the lake. seven years devastation as on this day 186 years ago Iningthou fisherman who live in the surrounding Phumdis in this area are usually burnt Potsangbam, the Oinam , the Keinou The Loktak Lake and its precincts Chinglen Nongdrenkhomba passed away. On this day, a treaty was areas and on phumdis, also known as for construction of fish cum paddy and Irulok. The Lake located on the faced serious problem due to loss of signed between Awa and British on Kabo Valley. Manipur was ignored phumsangs. Human activities has led farms; many large fish farms with southern side of the Manipur river vegetal cover in the catchment area at this treaty and people felt that it was a humiliation to the erstwhile to serve pressure on the lake raised levees have been built. The basin is at the lowest elevation in the and construction of Ithai barrage at country of Manipur. ecosystem. 55 rural and urban hamlets central zone extending from valley and other major river flows into the outlet of the lake for multipurpose Manipur is now wrecked by storms today. The storm we face now is around the lake have a population of AwangLaisoi Pat (western part of the lake except a few rivulets. Several development of water resources. The different from what we saw in the 19th century. The enemy is also about 100,000 people. Considering the Nambol river near NgaikhongKullen) water resources development degradation of the catchment area has different. The disunity which we have now is different from the disunity ecological status and biodiversity to Laphupat( between Khordak projects have been developed in the occurred. Deforestation and shifting that existed in the 19th century. The only similarity if we do not get values, the lake was initially Channel and Imphal river) encloses Manipur river basin to meet the cultivation in the catchment areas united, we would be unable to contain the challenges. So the path we designated as wetland of International prominent Islands of Thanga, Karang growing demands for irrigation and have accelerated the process of soil must take is difficult. We must face the challenges as we are the majority importance under Ramsar and Ithing. It has some sub-zones drinking water. The most discussed erosion resulting in the lake’s community. We should not sell the interest of the whole at the behest Convention on 23 rd March 1990. It was vizLaisoi, Awangsoi, Yennapat, project is the Loktak Multipurpose shrinkage due to siltation. The annual of others and we must remember this. also listed under the Montreux Record Thorapat etc. It is the main open project which provides hydropower, silt flow into the lake is estimated to The most important matter is which path the Meiteis should take on 16 th June 1993, a record of Ramsar water zone of the lake which was irrigation and water supply benefits be 336,350 tons. The nutrients from given the present situation in Manipur.

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