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Save Loktak campaign Pondicherry University

Puducherry, April 10: As a part of the North East Centre for Environmental Education and Research , Imphal `s World Wide Save Loktak Lake , Puducherry chapter , an awareness drive was carried out at the Pondicherry University campus today from 4pm `“ 6pm.

The event was carried out under the city co-ordinator Chanchan Yumnam along with 18 volunteers from different states and several supporters. Around 250 people took part in the campaign. People from various age groups participated in the event ranging from school going children to college students, research scholars, professors, shopkeepers, retired officers and housewives. A simple questionnaire on Loktak Lake was provided to the people who participated in the event. Through the survey it came into picture that more than 50% of the people who participated in the event were unaware of the largest freshwater lake in the North East India and also 55% of the people did not know anything about the world`™s only floating National park.

After the questionnaire survey, volunteers geared up and explained the importance of Loktak lake to the people and the prevailing degrading condition of the lake due to siltation, eutrophication and also due to the impacts of Loktak hydro-electric power station. The event also stressed on the consequences that may come up if immediate actions are not taken up to conserve the Lake which is referred to as the lifeline of Manipur.

The next part of the campaign will be conducted at the Pondicherry Rock Beach on April 16, from 4pm to 6pm. The campaign is an awareness programme initiated by NECEER, Imphal for the conservation of Loktak Lake. More than 600 volunteers and 32 city Coordinators are involved in organizing this campaign. The campaign is to create awareness about the conservation of Loktak Lake, the largest fresh water lake in Northeast India. The lake was recognised as Ramsar site in 1990. Keibul Lamjao, the only floating national park in the world is situated at the south west part of the lake. It is home to the endangered Manipur brow antlered deer `Sangai`™ `“ Cervus eldi eldi and many other endangered species. The lake is an Important Bird Area identified by BNHS, Mumbai and Birdlife International.

Involvement of youth and mobilization of public for the conservation of Loktak Lake is the main objective of the campaign. The campaign is supported by more than 20 international and national organizations. The campaign will conclude in 2012 with a grand campaign at the vicinity of the Lake by involving the local inhabitants, local NGOs and Government officials.

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