Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, along with Loktak Development Authority and the state government, has scheduled a joint meeting of all stakeholders to discuss the Loktak Hydro Electric Project (LHEP) on December 15, 2023.
The call for the meet came in the midst of growing concerns over the impact of the Loktak Hydro Electric Project (LHEP) and its far-reaching consequences on communities, submergence of agricultural land, socio-economic impact and alterations to the state’s ecosystem.
Since its commission in 1983, the LHEP has adversely affected Loktak Lake’s ecosystem and led to the flooding of approximately 80,000 acres of land in the valley.
Calling it a crucial meeting, an official source informed that the meeting will delve into the modernization plan proposed by the National Hydro Electric Power Corporation (NHPC) for the Loktak Hydro Electric Project. It will cover key issues such as environmental degradation, community displacement, socio-economic changes (especially sustaining livelihoods) and alterations to the local ecosystem.
“The meeting is poised to provide a platform for stakeholders to express their concerns and explore sustainable alternatives,” it said.
The meeting is likely to be attended by Minister (Forest & Environment, Power & Agriculture), Minister (Water Resources ), Minister (Public Works & YAS), Minister (Fishery ), Minister( PHED and CAF&PD), Minister (Education & Law), MLAs of Thanga, Moirang, Kumbi, Wangoi, Mayang Imphal, Chairman LDA, Chief Secretary & administrative secretaries and heads of departments concerned among others.
The proactive approach of the Chief Minister, working in collaboration with the Loktak Development Authority and the state government, underscores a commitment to evaluating and mitigating the adverse effects linked to the project, aligning with the conservation mission of the LDA, the source said.
In its renewed commitment, the state government has sought public cooperation in the collective endeavour towards comprehensive rejuvenation of the Loktak Lake and its associated wetlands and implementing all conceivable measures for the well-being of both present and future generations.
Notably, the Chairman of Loktak Development Authority (LDA), M Asnikumar Singh, has drawn attention to the pressing environmental concerns associated with the LHEP. He made the move to protect the ecological integrity of Loktak Lake.
Following a series of letters addressed to the NHPC, Ministry of Power, and Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC), Chairman M Asnikumar Singh highlighted serious breaches in administrative procedures related to the submission of the revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the modernization of the Loktak Project.
This concern led to a high-level meeting held in New Delhi, where Chairman Singh, accompanied by the LDA team and state government officials, emphasized the critical issues associated with the modernization plan of Loktak Hydro Electric Project.
Loktak Lake, which is the biggest freshwater lake in North East India, has been designated as a Ramsar Protected Site since 1990. The current state of affairs demands a thoughtful and strategic response to address the environmental challenges facing this lake.
 and its far-reaching consequences on communities, submergence of agricultural land, socio-economic impact and alterations to the state’s ecosystem.){kind=link}