The All Loktak Lake Areas Fishermen’s Union Manipur, with an aim to commemorate the atrocities meted against fishermen and phum huts of Loktak Lake, observed the 6th commemoration of Loktak Lake Arson Day at Thanga Chinglak Thongkha today, followed by a public meeting. All Loktak Lake Areas Fishermen’s Union Manipur (ALLAFUM) advisor H Yaima Singh, Chairman Committee on Human Rights, Phullindro Konsam, CORE president Dr Debabrata Roi Laiphungbam, All Manipur Farmer’s Association president Dhana attended the event as presidium members among others. People from different areas of Thanga participated in the ceremony and a two minutes silence was observed to mark the commemoration. Meanwhile, the public meeting which was conducted after the observation, deliberated on Manipur Loktak Lake (Protection) Act 2006 and Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rule 2017.The dignitaries expressed that the Act and rules which were formed with the objective to safeguard and protect Loktak Lake have almost sidelined the source of income for the fishermen and people who earn their livelihood from the flora and fauna of the lake. The Wetlands (Conservation) Rule prohibits setting up of houses above the lake and any kind of work or task which would affect the lake at large. On the contrary, NPHC has set up the Ithai barrage greatly affecting the water level of the lake and the removal of the barrage is necessary to ease the hardship of the people. The dignitaries further expressed that establishment of infrastructures/industry around the Lake has been prohibited according to the rule and added that setting up of new infrastructures around the lake by the Government in the name of promoting tourism should also be prohibited. The meeting also questioned the progress of the lake since the coming of Loktak Development Authority. It also discussed on how to improve or change the former Acts, present Acts and RAMSAR rules so that mutual benefit is achieved by all. ALLAFUM president O Rajen Singh, while commemorating the atrocities committed against the fishermen in 2011, by burning hundreds of fishermen’s phumhuts, destroying fishing equipment, personal belongings etc, stressed on the need to abolish Loktak protection Act and added that the Act gave power to the authorities caused grievances among the fishermen.
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