Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupendra Yadav on Sunday chaired a review meeting on Integrated Management Plan to revive Loktak lake at Forest Head Office, Sanjenthong in Imphal, official sources said.
Addressing the review meeting, the union minister said that the Integrated Management Plan for Loktak lake will be successful only if local aspirations and ambitions are kept in mind.
"We are committed to preserving the economic, social and cultural facets of Loktak lake, along with maintaining its ecological aspect, especially bio-diversity. The main issue is, how to maintain the beautiful gift of nature Loktak Lake with the participation of the local community," the minister said.
The meeting was held in the presence of state Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Awangbow Newmai, Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba, Loktak Development Authority (LDA) Chairman L Susindro Meitei, Thanga A/C MLA Tongbram Robindro Singh, Bishnupur A/C MLA Govindas Konthoujam and Moirang A/C MLA Pukhrem Sharatchandra Singh.
In a joint press conference held after the meeting, Minister Awangbow Newmai said that the meeting was held with an objective to save the Loktak Lake. He said the Union Minister gave assurance to give his full support to all the plans to preserve and protect the lake.
Meanwhile, LDA Chairman L Susindro Meitei said that the union minister is concerned with the conservation efforts of the Loktak Lake. He informed that the Union Minister gave his commitment to over Rs 97 crore conservation plan proposal which was put up in the meeting for the conservation efforts of the Loktak Lake. He also said that plan to provide sustainable livelihood for fishermen in the periphery area are in the pipeline.
The stakeholders attending the meeting were Good Will Mission Manipur, Joint Coordination Committee on Wildlife and Biodiversity (JCCWB), Environmental Social Reformation and Sangai Protection Forum, The Yaralpat Integrated Farming Co. of Society, Loktak Lake Tourism Development Cooperation Society Ltd. Sendra and Loktak View Point Development Organisation.
The meeting was also attended by the officials of the Forest department including principal chief conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force (PCCF and HoFF) Aditya Kumar Joshi, Directorate of Environment and Climate Change including the director Y Nabachandra and Loktak Development Authority including director Longjam Bhagaton.
