‘Loktak lake may not exist by 2050’

Imphal: Loktak lake of Manipur may not be seen by 2050 if water holding capacity of the lake continues to reduce due to deposition of eroded soil, says environmentalist N. Munal Meitei.

Due to lack of vegetation in the catchments of the state, 4.5 million tons of soil are eroded each year and out of which 0.65 million tones are deposited into the Loktak lake. Thus 4 million cubic metre of water holding capacity of the state’s water body is reducing annually, Munal said.

“If the present trend continues, then we may not see our most beautiful and lovely, the largest fresh water lake in the eastern India, the mother Loktak Lake by 2050,” he told Pothashang.

Already due to the Ithai barrage, 18 rare species of fishes have been locally extinct from this lake. More importantly this lake takes the maximum part to ameliorate for the stable climate of the state, he said.

“Therefore, it should be the topmost responsibility of the present generation to save out mother Loktak lake for sake of our environment and the future generations,” he suggests.

Loktak is the largest freshwater lake in India located in Bishnupur district of Manipur. Keibul Lamjao National Park, a floating island, locates on the lake,  where the unique and rare brow-antlered deer Sangai inhabits.

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