BISHNUPUR, September 28: A day-long public consultation meeting on livelihood impacts of 105 MW Loktak project and Manipur Loktak Lake Protection Act 2006 jointly organized by All Loktak Lake Areas Fishermens’ Union, All Manipur Thanga Peoples’ Welfare Association, Citizens Concern for Dams and Development and Committee on the Protection of Natural Resources in Manipur was held today at Thanga Haoreng Chingyang.
Speaking at the consultation, O Rajen, Secy ALLAFU stated that around 20 species of local fishes and some breeds of local rice have become extinct due to the Ithai Barrage and around 83,000 hectares of cultivable lands have been submerged under water.
He continued that when even five persons of a ten members’ family works hard day and night, the family would find hard to manage their survival as their traditional practice of fishing has been affected.
Moreover, the people also cannot depend on rearing of cattle such as buffaloes and cows which are rarely seen nowadays, he noted.
Dr RK Ranjan, Chairperson of the Citizens Concern for Dams and Development said if the water level of the river increased and reaches up to Leimatak because of Loktak Hydro Power Project and ongoing construction of Ithai Barrage, then various species of local fish and other vegetable plants would vanish.
Ngaton, one of the local fishes are rarely seen by today’s generation nowadays. Moreover, some of the local paddy products like Taothabi and Tumai are also not seen and they have been replaced by imported products, he pointed out.
The consultation meeting also adopted 13 points for further observation.