Environmental Concerns for Loktak Lake in Manipur

Loktak Lake, a Ramsar Site, supports a diverse ecosystem with 132 plant species and 428 animal species. It plays a crucial role in hydropower, fisheries, transport, and tourism. The lake's ecological significance requires sustainable management.

Study Findings

• A study by Nagaland University's Environmental Science Department highlights environmental threats to Loktak Lake, focusing on land use changes affecting water quality.
• The Keibul Lamjao National Park, home to rare brow-antlered deer, is part of the lake ecosystem.

Key Issues Identified

• Land use changes like agriculture, settlements, and shifting cultivation are impacting water quality by degrading the rivers feeding the lake.
• Field sampling across nine major rivers identified the Nambul River as the most polluted, with low oxygen and high organic contamination due to agriculture and settlements.
• The Khuga River faced poor water quality due to extensive jhum, despite higher forest cover.
• Rivers flowing through forest-dominated landscapes, such as Iril and Thoubal, showed better water quality, underscoring the importance of natural vegetation.

Consequences and Recommendations

• Community-based land management and stricter control on agricultural run-off and waste discharge are crucial for restoring Loktak Lake.
• The lake is listed in the Montreux Record, indicating severe ecological challenges like reduced fish populations, rising pollution, and sedimentation.

Collaboration and Support

• The study received support from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and field assistance from Manipur Pollution Control Board officials.