Defunct LDA oils Loktak Lake extinction

Imphal, June 11: Among several factors contributing to the gradual extinction of fresh water Loktak Lake defunct of Loktak Development Authority and administrative inconvenience between concerned ministries have been cited, according to official source. While fund constraints has been cited for the LDA failure lack of coordination between the LDA and Forest & Environment Ministries in respect of executing respective assignments at the largest fresh water lack in Eastern India is the main cause of gradual rot of Loktak Lake. Another important factor is engaging Engineering experts rather than environmentalist to look into the ecology of the lake, informed the source. During the 2002-03 and 2003-04 period LDA could not clear the more than 24 percent of the floating bio-mass (Phumdis) which is posing great danger to survival of the entire lake. Moreover, siltation of the lake due to waste carried by various rivers and stream that ultimate flows into the lake is another major cause for concern where also only 39 percent of the accumulated waste could be cleared during the same period. As per survey report about 5.10 lakh tonne of silt flows to the Lake. The source also explained that fund crunch has led to the inability of LDA authorities repair machines, purchase fuel and lubricants as some of the chief hindrances in pursuit for preservation of the Lake. On the other hand, approved outlay under the 10th Plan for the 2002-03 session was Rs 250 lakh out of Rs 248.27 lakhs could be accounted as expenditures while in 2003-04 Rs 310.17 lakhs were expended out of the total allocation of Rs 320 lakhs. The total approved out-lay to LDA under the same plan year was Rs 900 with the released amount accounted at Rs 341.56 lakhs, detailed the source. Treatment of catchment areas of Loktak Lake, water management (de-siltation/channelisation & weed control) fisheries development, data base/monitoring and general awareness comes under the purview of the LDA's Action Plan but other than water treatment all the programme have been listed as failed. The partial success of water management is also due to assistance of India-Canada Environment Facility, the source further informed.