Manipur: Union Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Labour & Employment, Bhupender Yadav on Monday took stock of the situation of the Loktak Lake and Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP) in Bishnupur district of Manipur which is an abode to various flora and fauna, including the state animal Sangai.
Addressing the gathering at a function organised by the Loktak Development Authority (LDA) at the Loktak Inland Water Transport Complex in Sendra, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav said that it is our responsibility to fully implement the integrated management plan of Loktak and he fully takes the responsibility as a Union Minister.
Stating about the specialities of the Loktak Lake, he said that it is the largest freshwater lake in entire North East India and floating land masses/phumdis cannot be found in other places in the world. He also said that the Loktak is not only a lake but also an important historic landmark of India’s independence struggle. “This is the sacred place from where Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose showed the dream of an independent India to the people of the country,” the Union minister added.
Yadav then said that one should think of developing the natural gift of nature as the periphery of the Loktak Lake has lots of species including the endangered ones and migratory birds arriving in the lake. He opined that the development cannot be done without the local participation. He further said that development means to protect the natural beauty of the area including the protection of the biodiversity and to give a dignified level of life by uplifting the economic status of the people living in and around the periphery of the lake.
The Union minister then assured the people that he would be arriving again in the State in January to sit along with the representatives of the local authority, local villagers and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to discuss the integrated plan. He also assured that he will give full support to the work plan taken up by the State Government.
NNN