ENVIS Centre, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Govt. of India
Printed Date: Thursday, November 7, 2024
Wetlands
According to the recent survey conducted by the Remote Sensing Application Centre, Govt. of Manipur, there are 17 lakes and 2 ox-bow lakes in the state. Largest number lakes are in Imphal and Thoubal districts. However there are also a number of smaller lakes which are termed as kom (pits). About 134 waterlogged marshy and swampy wetlands are in different districts. These areas are low lying, situated either in the peripheral area or vicinity of the lakes. Highest numbers of water logged areas are recorded in Imphal valley (69), followed by Thoubal (40) and Bishnupur districts (21). There are 2 man-made reservoirs, one each in Senapati and Tamenglong districts.
Loktak lake
The lakes in the state are comparatively old with their own distinct characteristic life-span, topographic, physiographic as well as hydrologic features. These features have been closely related to the evolving geo-physical features of the state. In the state, there were about 500 lakes in the valley of the state in the beginning of the 20th century. They have been reduced fast in the past few years and as a result, hardly 55 lakes were found existing in the state by 1950s. Loktak lake is the most important fresh water lake not only in the state but also in the North- East India. Other important existing Lakes in the State are Ikop, Waithou, Ngakrapat and Loushipat. These lakes remain threatened due to artificial eutrophication and encroachment for cultivation and fish farming. Highly degraded Lakes in the state are kharungphat, Khoidumpat, Pumlen, Lokoipat, Sanapat, Yaralpat and Poiroupat