Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 22 2023: All Loktak Lake Area Fishers' Union Manipur (ALLAFUM) observed World Fisheries day at Champu Khangpok Floating Island Village in Loktak Lake on Wednesday.

The observance was attended by ALLAFUM secretary Oinam Rajen, ICAR NEH Region principal scientist Dr Ch Basudha, senior scientist Dr Arati Ningombam, PRDA Bishnupur secretary Longjam Suranjoy, IUCN CEESP member Salam Rajesh and elders of Thanga.

Speaking on the occasion, Oinam Rajen pointed out that degradation of ecosystem of Loktak Lake has drastically impacted the fisher community who are sustaining their livelihood from the lake.

Not only causing problem to humans as well as natural environment, Loktak Hydroelectric Power Project disrupts ecological and hydrological changes.

So, there is urgent need for reviewing the function of Ithai Barrage and revive the original fish population.

This will improve the lives of the fishermen who depend on Loktak and revitalise the ecosystem of the lake, he added.

In his address, Salam Rajesh stressed the need for declaring Champu Khangpok Floating Village as a 'Heritage village' and giving legal status by the government as it is the only natural free floating island village in the world.

There are floating island in Iran and Cambodia but they are not free floating and not supported by living biomass, he explained, while urging the people of Champu Khangpok, women in particular to improve their livelihood by availing benefits of self help group.