Question : Flood around Loktak Lake

a) the steps taken by the Government to address the plight of the farmers who have continued to suffer due to their several thousand hectares of agricultural land around the Loktak Lake (Manipur) getting flooded due to Ithai Barrage;

b) the steps taken by the Government for the upkeep of the ecological integrity of the KeibulLamjao National Park situated in Loktak Lake in Manipur, which is the world’s only floating wildlife sanctuary; and

c) the steps taken by the Government to conserve Sangai – the State animal of Manipur, whose habitat the phumdis are fast disappearing due to the Ithai Barrage Hydro Project?

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development ofNorth Eastern Region

[Dr. Jitendra Singh]

a) As per details received from the Govt. of Manipur, main cause of flood in Manipur valley particularly in the Loktak Sub basin is attributed due to the natural gigantic rocky barrier known as Sugnu Hump in the downstream of Ithai Barrage which restricts the flow condition of Manipur river causing backwater effect on the upstream reach of river. Government of Manipur has proposed for preparation of a Master plan to the Brahmaputra Board for dredging or resectioning of the river downstream of Ithai Barrage for mitigation or control of flood.

b) The steps taken up by the Government of Manipur for the upkeep of the KeibulLamjao National Park situated in Loktak Lake in Manipur, include improvement of overall habitat conditions and protection measures;enhanced involvement of local community /stakeholders'' participation in conservation efforts;skill development, capacity building of frontline field staff posted in the National Park periodically; research and monitoring of habitat of National Park for detection of change in the natural habitat; cutting of channel, controlled burning & fire line cutting and eradication of unwanted invasive plant species and other weeds within the park; and control of Phumdi movements by providing bamboo trusses etc.

c) A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with Wildlife Institute of India for implementing the project "Conservation action plan for Manipur''s brow-antlered deer or Sangai: An integrated approach", under the Endangered Species Recovery Programme of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. Other steps include- an integrated management Plan for KeibulLamjaoNational Park; training of Frontline field staff and local youths on habitat and population monitoring exercise was conducted;population and genetic monitoring of the existing Sangai population is being carried out periodically; disease monitoring of livestock around the Park apart from Sangai and hog deer is being done from time to time; and an Action Plan for conservation breeding has been prepared in consultation with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, USA and National Institute for Animal Health, Baghpat etc.