374
barrage led to (1) changes in hydrological
regime, (2) inundation of agricultural lands and
displacement of people from fl ooded lands and
(3) loss of fi sh population and diversity. Other
disturbances are (h) overfi shing and hunting of
aquatic migratory ducks and (i) menacing growth
of phumdis encourage proliferation of huts and
villages. Phumdis may also endanger the life of
Sangai; (j) the dam has also hampered the migration of fi shes from Chindwin–Irrawaddy River
system of Myanmar and has possibly resulted in
changes in the species composition. (j) Further,
‘athaphums’ (artifi cially created phumdis for
fi shing), constructed by the villagers for fi shing,
have proliferated and have been choking the
entire lake since few years ago; (k) the population of economic plants, e.g. Saccharum species, Setaria pumila and Alpinia nigra , and the
major food plants, like the Zizania, Latifolia ,
Carex sp. and Coix sp., have dwindled resulting
in starvation of Sangai deer. Also, the phumdis
are, perhaps, becoming thinner. As a result, the
hoofs of the Sangai get stuck in the marsh and
may lead to their drowning. (l) Loktak is
increasingly threatened by the ingress of sewage, chemicals, etc. As such, Loktak is a highly
eutrophic lake today.
Loktak Development Authority (LDA)
To address all the issues raised on the health of
the lake, as detailed above, Government of
Manipur has set up the LDA under ‘the Manipur
Loktak Lake (Protection) Act 2006 (Manipur Act
3 of 2006)’ with the objective ‘to provide for
administration, control, protection, improvement,
conservation and development of the natural
environment of the Loktak Lake.’
Restoration Actions
A report entitled ‘Sustainable Development and
Water Resources Management of Loktak Lake
(SDWRML)’ based on a joint study under the
aegis of the LDA and the Wetlands International
South Asia (WISA) revealed the following:
(a) The Loktak Hydel Power Project had not
made the desired impact on livelihood activities
of the target communities, (b) the Ithai barrage and
its operation by NHPC have contributed to the
deterioration of the lake environment, (c) participation
of NGOs in the project was not enough and (d)
the Chinese design of a fi sh hatchery was too
large and had to be scaled down.
The measures of mitigation for future are as
follows :
(a) To reduce soil erosion and sedimentation
of the lake by enlarging the scope of microwatersheds in the catchment area, (b) to construct
a channel through the Keibul Lamjao National
Park to enable phumdis to settle at the bed of the
lake, (c) to settle the encroachment problem by
demarcating the lake boundary, (d) to enhance
the livelihood and resettlement of the phumdi
dwellers backed by remunerative livelihood programme and (e) to examine introduction of fi shing net instead of ‘Athapum’ practised at
present.
Conservation Measures
(a) Loktak Lake has been designated as the
Ramsar site in 1990. Further the MOEF, GOI has
special plans for management and conservation
of Loktak Lake, (b) LDA was formed in 1987 for
planning and monitoring the management and
development of the lake and (c) funds sanctioned
for eradication of weeds from the lakes.
20.2.12.2 Awangsoi Lake
This wetland (Plate 20.60a ) is situated to the
south of Keinou village in Bishnupur District of
Manipur, about 24 km. away from Imphal. This
lake lies between 24º39′48″N and 24º39′23″N
latitude and 93º47′04″E and 93º46′90″E longitude and at an altitude of 2,525 ft (769.81 m)
MSL. The water spread area of this lake was
100 ha in 1975. The lake has a depth of about
2–5 m. The wetland has a subtropical monsoon
climate. The hot months record an average air
temperature of 31 °C. Monthly temperature of
the lake ranges between 16 and 31 °C and rainfall
varies from 97 to 258.9 mm.
Plankton
Some zooplanktonic forms are Euglena sp.,
Brachionus spp ., Keratella spp ., Daphnia sp .,
Ceriodaphnia sp ., Moina sp ., Alona sp ., Cyclops,
spp ., Diaptomus sp., etc.
20 Wetlands of India
barrage led to (1) changes in hydrological
regime, (2) inundation of agricultural lands and
displacement of people from fl ooded lands and
(3) loss of fi sh population and diversity. Other
disturbances are (h) overfi shing and hunting of
aquatic migratory ducks and (i) menacing growth
of phumdis encourage proliferation of huts and
villages. Phumdis may also endanger the life of
Sangai; (j) the dam has also hampered the migration of fi shes from Chindwin–Irrawaddy River
system of Myanmar and has possibly resulted in
changes in the species composition. (j) Further,
‘athaphums’ (artifi cially created phumdis for
fi shing), constructed by the villagers for fi shing,
have proliferated and have been choking the
entire lake since few years ago; (k) the population of economic plants, e.g. Saccharum species, Setaria pumila and Alpinia nigra , and the
major food plants, like the Zizania, Latifolia ,
Carex sp. and Coix sp., have dwindled resulting
in starvation of Sangai deer. Also, the phumdis
are, perhaps, becoming thinner. As a result, the
hoofs of the Sangai get stuck in the marsh and
may lead to their drowning. (l) Loktak is
increasingly threatened by the ingress of sewage, chemicals, etc. As such, Loktak is a highly
eutrophic lake today.
Loktak Development Authority (LDA)
To address all the issues raised on the health of
the lake, as detailed above, Government of
Manipur has set up the LDA under ‘the Manipur
Loktak Lake (Protection) Act 2006 (Manipur Act
3 of 2006)’ with the objective ‘to provide for
administration, control, protection, improvement,
conservation and development of the natural
environment of the Loktak Lake.’
Restoration Actions
A report entitled ‘Sustainable Development and
Water Resources Management of Loktak Lake
(SDWRML)’ based on a joint study under the
aegis of the LDA and the Wetlands International
South Asia (WISA) revealed the following:
(a) The Loktak Hydel Power Project had not
made the desired impact on livelihood activities
of the target communities, (b) the Ithai barrage and
its operation by NHPC have contributed to the
deterioration of the lake environment, (c) participation
of NGOs in the project was not enough and (d)
the Chinese design of a fi sh hatchery was too
large and had to be scaled down.
The measures of mitigation for future are as
follows :
(a) To reduce soil erosion and sedimentation
of the lake by enlarging the scope of microwatersheds in the catchment area, (b) to construct
a channel through the Keibul Lamjao National
Park to enable phumdis to settle at the bed of the
lake, (c) to settle the encroachment problem by
demarcating the lake boundary, (d) to enhance
the livelihood and resettlement of the phumdi
dwellers backed by remunerative livelihood programme and (e) to examine introduction of fi shing net instead of ‘Athapum’ practised at
present.
Conservation Measures
(a) Loktak Lake has been designated as the
Ramsar site in 1990. Further the MOEF, GOI has
special plans for management and conservation
of Loktak Lake, (b) LDA was formed in 1987 for
planning and monitoring the management and
development of the lake and (c) funds sanctioned
for eradication of weeds from the lakes.
20.2.12.2 Awangsoi Lake
This wetland (Plate 20.60a ) is situated to the
south of Keinou village in Bishnupur District of
Manipur, about 24 km. away from Imphal. This
lake lies between 24º39′48″N and 24º39′23″N
latitude and 93º47′04″E and 93º46′90″E longitude and at an altitude of 2,525 ft (769.81 m)
MSL. The water spread area of this lake was
100 ha in 1975. The lake has a depth of about
2–5 m. The wetland has a subtropical monsoon
climate. The hot months record an average air
temperature of 31 °C. Monthly temperature of
the lake ranges between 16 and 31 °C and rainfall
varies from 97 to 258.9 mm.
Plankton
Some zooplanktonic forms are Euglena sp.,
Brachionus spp ., Keratella spp ., Daphnia sp .,
Ceriodaphnia sp ., Moina sp ., Alona sp ., Cyclops,
spp ., Diaptomus sp., etc.
20 Wetlands of India