Asem Bhakta Singh, Special Correspondence North East
Imphal: The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited’s (NHPC) bid to extend the Loktak Hydroelectric Power Project’s lifespan by another 25 years has ignited a firestorm of dissent within Manipur. The fishing community reliant on Loktak Lake, nestled in the Bishnupur district and regarded as the largest freshwater lake in the northeast, stands at the forefront of this opposition.
At the core of the furor lies the All Loktak Lake Areas Fishers Union, Manipur (ALLAFUM), vehemently condemning NHPC’s unilateral actions and disregard for crucial stakeholders’ perspectives. The Union’s release castigates NHPC for sidestepping the concerns of the state government, the Loktak Development Authority (LDA), and the impacted fishing and farming communities, perpetually affected since the project’s inception in 1983.
ALLAFUM’s discontentment reverberates in their demands for NHPC to address the decades-long ecological and human crises stemming from the contentious Ithai Barrage. This artificial structure has been a bone of contention between project authorities and the people of Manipur for almost forty years, inflicting what the Union terms as “ecological and human disasters.”
Central to ALLAFUM’s admonition is NHPC’s obligation to elucidate their plans for the rehabilitation and resettlement of the project-affected populace. Additionally, the Union insists on clarity regarding efforts to restore Loktak Lake’s deteriorating status, labeled as ‘rapidly aging’ due to human-engineered interventions.
ALLAFUM’s stark cautionary stance warns against perpetuating the Loktak hydro project without NHPC’s explicit clarification and concrete steps towards addressing these critical concerns. The Union underscores the plight of the Loktak fishing community, grappling with dwindling fish populations directly linked to the impact of the Ithai Barrage.
The environmental degradation of Loktak, characterized by siltation, pollution, eutrophication, and the rapid depletion of native vegetation, further amplifies the Union’s alarm. ALLAFUM vehemently calls upon the state government to prioritize the grievances of the affected populace before considering any extensions to the Loktak hydro project.
In essence, the Union adamantly opposes NHPC’s unilateral moves and implores a conscientious approach that places the well-being of the people and the environment at the forefront of any decision regarding the Loktak Hydroelectric Project’s extension.
