IMPHAL, April 7: The state government has set up a Joint Task Force for cadastral survey and field verification of areas falling under Loktak Lake to assess the extent of encroachment following a recent cabinet decision.
The area of Loktak Lake has been shrinking at an alarming rate as a result of encroachment and conversion of fish farms putting at risk the ecological well-being and the very survival of the lake, according to government sources.
The cabinet had approved the formation of the JTF with Commissioner (Revenue) as the chairman. The members are Director (Fisheries), District Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of Imphal West and Bishnupur with Project Director/LDA as convener.
Meanwhile, the recent cabinet approved the establishment of District Flagship programme units in all nine districts of the state headed by the Chief Secretary.
The district-wise units will submit their respective progress reports on a monthly basis to the state unit.
Further strengthening the administrative infrastructure, the cabinet had further decided on decentralisation of resources to the districts to maximise access to resources and optimise performances under the flagship programmes and to expend Rs 1116.4 crore from the earmarked Rs 1805.23 in ACA/CSS.
Further according to the source, the state cabinet had also approved the payment of arrears and allowances to 175 pensioners of the erstwhile Manipur State Transport in compliance with the order of Gauhati High Court subject to verification concurrence of finance dept/pay implementation cell. The payment will however be made out offunds available in DDOs account, the source added.