Following a meeting with Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav on Sunday, Manipur's Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change Awangbow Newmai announced that the Centre will provide Rs 97 crore to protect the prominent Loktak Lake.
Under the Ramsar Convention, the three lakes in northeast India, Loktak lake in Manipur's Bishnupur district, Deepor Beel in Guwahati, and Rudrasagar lake in western Tripura, are designated as wetlands of global importance. Under this convention, national and international action are coordinated for the conservation of wetlands and wise use of their resources.
Newmai said the objectives of the meeting with the central minister on Sunday were to safeguard the Loktak Lake.
The Union Minister promised to fully support the plans to protect and preserve the lake, which has floating land masses and phumdis (series of floating lakes) unique in the world.
L.S. Meitei, chairman of Loktak Development Authority, says the Minister is concerned about conservation efforts for Loktak Lake. "A detailed conservation plan was put up in the Sunday's review meeting. The plan also included to provide sustainable livelihood for fishermen in the periphery area," He said.
The Union Environment Minister met for a second time within a week on Loktak Lake development and protection. In an earlier interview, Yadav said that the Loktak lake was not just a lake, but also an important place in India's history of independence since it was the place where Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose introduced the idea of an independent India to the people of India.
N. Biren Singh, the state's Chief Minister, had earlier stated that the government was unable to properly utilize the abundance of natural resources in the state.
Various NGOs were present at Sunday's review meeting, including Good Will Mission Manipur, the Joint Coordination Committee for Wildlife and Biodiversity, the Environmental Social Reformation and Sangai Protection Forum, and the Yaralpat Integrated Farming Cooperative Society, Loktak Lake Tourism Development Cooperative Society Ltd Sendra and Loktak View Point Development Organisation.