The largest fresh water lake in Northeast India Loktak Lake has been a main source of income and sustenance for inhabitants of the area. To raise awareness of the lake an International Save Loktak Lake Campaign will be held on March 7, 2010.
LOKTAK LAKE is the largest fresh water lake in Northeast India. It has an area of 300sq km and has been recognised as Ramsar site in 1990. Keibul Lamjao National Park--the only floating national park in the world--is situated at the South West part of the lake. It is home to the endangered Manipur brow antlered deer ‘Sangai’ – Cervus eldi eldi and many plant species.
The lake has been a main source of income and sustenance for inhabitants of the area, so much so that the lake is known as the lifeline of Manipur. However since the last few decades, the lake has been facing all round destructions due to both natural and anthropogenic activities. Rapid expansion of ‘Phumdis’ or floating islands, siltation, pollution, agriculture and adverse effect from Loktak Hydropower Project are some of the main problems which had led to an alarming destruction of the lake.
To raise awareness on the plight of the lake, and to draw attention towards an urgent need for action, the North East Centre for Environment Education Research has partnered with Delhi Greens and a series of environmental organisations in calling for an International Save Loktak Lake Campaign on March 7, 2010. The event is taking place in 20 cities across three continents. Delhi Greens invites you to the Delhi chapter of the campaign at Gandhi Darhsan, opposite Rajghat.
The event will have eminent speakers including Manipur MP Thockchom Meinya Singh, Dr Irfan Quereshi from Jamia Millia Islamia, Dr Savitha Singh from IP University and Govind Singh from Delhi Greens who would be expressing their concerns on the issue. A poster competition for school and college students has also been organised.
