Imphal: Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in northeast India, will be developed, beautified and conserved under the Integrated Management Plans of the Central government, Arun Kumar Sinha, IAS, Principal Secretary, Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Government of Manipur, said on Monday.
Speaking as the chief guest at the State-level observation of World Wetlands Day 2026 at Yaral Pat, Imphal, Sinha said the initiatives aim to protect aquatic ecosystems while ensuring sustainable management of wetlands. This year’s World Wetlands Day was observed under the theme “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage.”
Sinha said India, a signatory to the Ramsar Convention since 1982, has designated 96 Ramsar sites, including Loktak Lake. Under the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems, Integrated Management Plans are currently being implemented for five wetlands in Manipur, with Loktak among them.
Highlighting the role of the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change and the Manipur State Wetland Authority, he said the government has initiated several conservation measures, including ground-truthing of 132 wetlands, delineation of 71 wetland boundaries, preparation of management documents for 23 wetlands, and draft notification of Yaral Pat, Uttrapat and Waithou Phumnom Pat.
Referring to progress made at Yaral Pat wetland since 2021, Sinha said major achievements include fencing, plantation, desilting, spring rejuvenation, farmer training, livelihood support, infrastructure development and bird census activities.
He stressed that traditional knowledge plays a vital role in addressing biodiversity loss and climate change, and said World Wetlands Day serves as a reminder of the need for collective action to conserve wetlands while preserving cultural heritage. He also appreciated local communities in Manipur for safeguarding wetlands and urged them to continue this tradition for future generations.
The event also featured the opening of a photo exhibition by the Manipur Amateur Photo Club, prize distribution for winners of the State-level Symposium on World Wetlands Day 2026, the launch of a Wetlands Virtual Museum at Yaral Pat, and the declaration of Top Dusara village as a Climate Resilient Village.