The 300-sq. km Loktak Lake in Manipur — the largest freshwater lake in northeast India and recognized as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention of 1990 — is in dire straits today, essentially because of anthropogenic impact. The importance of the lake for a large number of life forms cannot be overstated. The lake not only sustains, through employment and livelihood, thousands of local communities, but also thrives and throbs with a myriad of flora and fauna, some of them endemic and close to being extinct.

Thingnam Anjulika Samom, Journalist, in her five-part FES-Infochange Media Fellowship series on Loktak, writes: "Loktak Lake has been the keeper of tales and history in Manipur. Said to be formed in times when humankind and the Gods frolicked and mingled together, Loktak Lake has been a reservoir of myths, legends, romances, and paeans. The timeless romance of Khamba and Thoibi was interwoven with Loktak Lake, while many of the scenes in Meitei folklore and legends were played out on the shores of the lake".

Today, the lake stands as an ancient ruin with immense archaeological significance. Unfortunately, this may soon become history. While folklore and folktales abound with paeans about the lake, modern pop songs lament the tragedy that has been wrought on it.

Lamenting the Slow Destruction of Loktak's Biodiversity

Natural phumdis, which are a thick floating mat of soil, humus, and dead vegetation in different stages of decay, are unique to Loktak Lake. They are home to aquatic, semi-aquatic, and a large number of terrestrial flora and fauna. Many families of the fishing community also make these floating biomass their home. Unfortunately, these floating natural habitats are on the verge of destruction. The lake forms the headwaters of the Loktak Hydro-Electric Project. Before the advent of this project, phumdis used to sink to the bed of the lake and absorb nutrients during dry season; when the rains came, they floated back to the surface and created the perfect conditions in this rich biodiversity hotspot for all aquatic and terrestrial species to breed in. But sadly, the construction of the Ethai Dam and the Loktak Power Project have perennially flooded the lake and its surroundings, thereby disturbing the natural ebb and flow cycle of the lake, which in turn has stripped the phumdis of supporting breeding conditions in the lake.

Man-made athaphums are artificial phumdis made by fisher folk for the purpose of fishing. The increasing proliferation of phumdis has resulted in rapid eutrophication in the lake. Remote sensing studies conducted jointly by the Manipur Remote Sensing Application Centre and Ahmedabad-based Space Application Centre show that the area under phumdi has increased significantly in the last two decades.

The Ethai Barrage Dam, an important component of the Loktak Project, was constructed on Imphal River in 1979. Contrary to what was initially planned, the submergence area increased two-fold, leading to deprivation of the livelihoods of a million farmers who drew their sustenance from the lake and its ecosystem. A study of the impact of the dam observes, "Since its inception, about 20 aquatic species have disappeared, the populations of migratory birds and waterfowls have dwindled, and the only habitat (phumdis) of the Sangai is on the verge of destruction." TA Samom substantiates this by saying that the barrage has stemmed the migration of fish from the Chindwin–Irrawady river system. This has effectively reduced fish population in the lake. Also, the dam has stopped the natural process of flushing loose phumdi down the river and out into the open sea, leading to eutrophication in the lake.

Finally, untreated industrial waste discharged into the lake has resulted in the growth of macrophytes and phytoplanktons and increased pollutants in the water. Also, indiscriminate use of toxic chemicals, insecticides, and pesticides in agricultural practices in and around the lake release high amounts of mineral nutrients and organic matter into the lake leading to further eutrophication. Adding to this problem is the one caused through dumping of huge amounts of sewage and solid wastes by nearby inhabitants and tourists which has caused severe pressure on the lake and its ecosystem.

Siltation is another aspect of the issue at hand. Lok means 'stream' and tak means 'the end', meaning 'the end of streams'. Rivers such as Imphal, Iril, Khuga, Nambol, Nambul, Sekmai, and Thoubal empty into Loktak Lake. Because of deforestation, soil erosion, and other man-made and natural causes, this drainage system dumps a large amount of sediments drawn from their respective catchment areas. This has resulted in rapid shallowing of the lake. One study estimates the annual average sediment dump into
the lake at 650,000 metric tonnes.

Mother Loktak

Loktak Lake has been termed the lifeline of the people of Manipur. It plays a vital role in the socio-economic and cultural life of the state. About 12 per cent of the population is directly dependent on the lake for their livelihood.

The Lake is one of the major sources of fish in the state. Plant species derived from the lake are used as food, fodder, fuel, thatching, fence material, medicines, raw material for handicrafts, and for religious and cultural purposes.

A total of 132 plant and 54 fish species have been identified in the lake of which about 20 aquatic species have reportedly disappeared. Fuelling this urgency is the result of a study which claims that additionally, about 34 species of fauna are near extinct. Thousands of fisher folk have also been rendered unemployed because of reduction in fish population in the lake.

The south-west of the lake houses the world's only floating national park — Keibul Lamjao National Park. The park is the only natural habitat of the now endangered brow-antlered deer, Sangai (Cervus eldi eldi) whose hooves are naturally adapted to move on phumdis. Over the years, this unique habitat of the Sangai has reportedly shrunk from 40 sq. km to 6 sq. km. This has pushed the agile but harmless Sangai to the edge of extinction.

The lake also helps in regulating local climate, recharges ground water, retains storm water, dilutes pollutants, and maintains water quality. It irrigates 24,000 ha of farmland and supplies drinking water to the city.

The phumdis maintain water quality and also act as a sink for important nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, along with being important for carbon sequestration. The floating wetland is among the most productive ecosystems as it provides a source of livelihood to thousands. The lake is also a potential breeding site for many birds, fishes, amphibians, and the Sangai.

The phumdis also support a large number of migratory and resident fish populations breeding on these floating islands. The lake and its biodiversity also contribute in terms of attracting local and international tourists.

Firepower in an Ecologically Sensitive Battleground

Manipur has been plagued by arms insurrections for at least 60 years. Over time, the number of militant groups has increased, partly because of factional vertical splits and partly because of the ethnic composition of the state. According to the Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh, there are at least 30 active militant groups operating from or in the state. Many of the groups have been using the floating islands of Loktak as safe havens because the area is unpatrolled and unpoliced. But in recent times this has changed to some extent with the formation of the Loktak Protection Force (LPF) by the state government.

A visitor to the lake bemoans, "In a queer mix of environmental tragedy and decaying political governance, much of the phumdis are now under the control of machine-gun wielding local militant groups....to add further misery to the ecological decline of the lake, frequent fire exchange between forces of the state (LPF) and the militants are claiming lives of the people and endangered animals of the phumdis."

The state government recently acquired hovercrafts from the US to be used by the LPF commandos in flushing out militants from inside the lake compound. The choice of the craft is ingenious given the topography of area; the hovercrafts are aquatic as well as terrestrial crafts which make them capable of operating on both water and land surfaces.

The hovercrafts are reportedly armed to the teeth: 2 rocket launchers, signalling system, 7.62 millimetre rifles, 9 millimetre carbines, 4 radar domes, 0.38 mm pistols, and around 4,100 cartridges of ammunition. One can imagine the extent of destruction that such lethal fire power will cause to life and environment in the lake.

The Locals: Dispossessed and Displaced

It is not clear how successful the government has been in managing the affected population. But given the growing number of grievances and court cases, it is clear that the voices are going to get louder in the days to come, especially in the management of rehabilitation of affected people.

For instance, a case was filed by Loktak Lake Affected Areas Peoples' Action Committee in the Imphal Bench of the Guwahati High Court, stating that at least 80,000 ha of arable land have been inundated by the Loktak project and subsequently by frequent flash floods throughout the year.

An advocacy group, GOI Monitor, says that the impact of dams on resources under common use, vital to livelihoods of local communities, is also a major missing link in impact assessment of projects.

It was widely reported recently that thousands of people in Loktak are staring at a bleak future and would soon be rendered homeless and jobless when the Manipur Loktak Lake (Protection) Act, 2006, gets implemented. The Act envisages, inter alia, dividing the lake into a core zone of 70.30 sq. km and a corresponding buffer zone.

This division, as and when it happens, will deprive the locals of both life and livelihood. According to the Act, construction of huts on phumdis, planting athaphum, or engaging in atha phum fishing in the core zone will soon become illegal. This is bound to dispossess, displace, and traumatize more than 10,000 people living in phumdi huts and thousands of others dependent on the lake for their livelihood.

Chief Minister Ibobi said as much when he proclaimed in his Khongjom Day speech that all hut-dwellers in the lake will surely be evicted.

Development versus Environment

With at least 168 large hydroelectric projects in different stages of being cleared, the entire north-east is engulfed in a fresh spurt of debate. Some of the mega-projects were magically cleared by the state governments almost overnight. This is what is reflected in the 2008 statement of the then Union Power Minister Jairam Ramesh, when he spoke of the 'MoU virus'. He was referring to summary agreements that some states sign with private hydro-power companies without satisfactorily assessing social and environmental impacts of the projects.

Recent trends suggest that aggrieved local communities who are up in arms against mega-projects are justified, although not sufficiently informed. Surely the government must engage with them and take them into confidence because the locals are the greatest stakeholders in any project.

To say that the locals are uneducated and therefore not fit to be consulted is to insult the age-old wisdom of the indigenous people. In matters of resource management and impact assessment, the government must engage with the local communities. Projects, big or small, are bound to succeed if the indigenous populations are made equal stakeholders; there are proven track records of this the world over. Even the Constitution of India provides for a certain degree of autonomy to the indigenous communities in the management of natural resources, but the ground reality reflects otherwise as far as mega-projects are concerned.

When the Loktak project was commissioned, many hoped that the project would usher in an era of prosperity into the otherwise backward state. Today, the same people doubt the choice made more than 30 years ago.

Let alone prosperity, the project has not even been able to meet the power demand of the state — a daily outage of around 16–18 hours is considered normal in most parts of the state! Manipur gets only about 32.01 per cent of the project's total power output, some of which is lost in transmission due to the outdated distribution system; the rest is sold by NHPC to other north-east states.

Given the Loktak project's adverse effect on life and ecology, many in Manipur believe they are bearing the brunt, while others are reaping the benefit. This has also tipped the debate in
favour of the environment and against indiscriminate development.

Global Campaign to Conserve Loktak Lake

A global awareness campaign to conserve Loktak was ignited in 2010 by the Imphal-based North East Centre for Environmental Education and Research (NECEER). The campaign is in its fifth phase this year. The scale and reach of the campaign is huge and it has received positive feedback from across the world. Assisted by more than 600 volunteers and 32 city coordinators, the campaign went around the globe spreading awareness and galvanizing global citizens.

Involving the public, especially youth, for the conservation of Loktak is one of the stated objectives of the campaign. The initiative has been supported by more than 20 international and national organizations. The fourth phase of the campaign concluded in 2012 near Loktak Lake amid much fanfare, with the involvement of inhabitants, local NGOs, and government officials.

Concluding Remarks

We are used to taking the existence of the Earth for granted; and we treat our own environment with total disdain, as if there is an alternate habitable planet out there. We have often been told that such a lackadaisical attitude will surely fulfil doomsday prophesies and that our own existence will soon perish if we don't take the signs seriously, but we continue to throw blank stares at them as long as we get to live for the rest of our days on manufactured, mostly false, rhetoric. This has begun to cost us greatly, not only in terms of the effect on our immediate environment, which has in turn disturbed our livelihood sources, but also by threatening to take us back to the Ice Age. We must be mindful of any adverse transformation taking place around us. And most importantly, act! This is probably the most important thing that the Loktak Lake is trying to teach us here.