The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (NHPC)’s 105 MW multipurpose hydroelectric project had drastically affected the scenic beauty of the Loktak Lake in Manipur.
Although the project was started in 1983 by the NHPC by constructing a barrage at the confluence of the Manipur and Khuga rivers, the locals of the State still feel that the divine beauty of the lake that it had once been had been lost entirely.
Apart from the loss of the natural beauty, the project was more of a nightmare for the people that had inhabited near the Loktak Lake.
Also read: Inland waterways project will destroy Loktak Lake: Manipur’s fishermen
The locals’ minds are still fresh with the tragedy due to the consequences of the implementation of the project even after 37 years.
Many people lost their precious agricultural lands and homes after the lake was flooded following the implementation of the project.
Moreover, climate change has today also drastically affected the Loktak Lake located at Moirang, 45 km away from Imphal, the state capital of Manipur.
Also read: Manipur: Climate change hits hard fishing community of Loktak Lake island
The fishing community of Karang claimed to have spotted a new kind of unknown aquatic insects around the island in the recent past besides experiencing rise of mosquito population.
It may be mentioned that the Loktak lake is famous for the phumdis (heterogeneous mass of vegetation, soil and organic matter at various stages of decomposition) floating over it.
The etymology of Loktak is – ‘Lok ‘means ‘stream’ and ‘tak’ means ‘the end’.