IMPHAL, November 17: The Pumlen Lake Development Organization today organized Pumlen Lake Day 2013 at Tokpaching. The lake is now categorized as endangered.
The Keishamthong Kendra MLA L Ibomcha Singh attended the function as chief guest while Hiyanglam MLA M Kunjo Singh presided over the function.
The assistant environmental officer of Manipur Pollution Control Board W Rosan, scientific officer of Loktak Development Authority L Arunkumar and the head of the history department of Kakching Khunou College O Binoy also attended the function as resource persons.
The secretary of the organization, Salam Sunil mentioned that the programme is being organized for the last 17 years in an attempt to save and extend the life of the lake, adding that the Pumlen Lake Day has been observed on the full moon day of Hiyangei of the local lunar calendar every year.
Narrating the history about the lake, the secretary mentioned that the lake is situated in Kakching sub division of Thoubal district is inhabited by a large number of people in the areas circumscribing it and lying under Hiyanglam and Sugnu assembly constituencies.
The lake is a historic lake and the second largest lake of the state, he further said and adding that the shrine of Mondum Mahadev and its hill range locates south ward of the lake, the vast land of Khoidum on the north and Burma Sugnu road on the east.
The lake has given livelihood to many people by its variety of fishes and sold in the market which make up the shortage of fish in the state, Sunil added and continued that besides this, the lake is home to many seasonal birds.
Sunil further suggested that the lake will attract tourist if it is developed according to the need of the tourist.
Apart from this, he also mentioned the biodiversity of the lake that took place worsening after the commissioning of Loktak Hydro Project which affects the economic condition and settlement pattern of the surrounding area of the lake, adding that the life of the lake has become poisonous due to draining fertilizer contaminated water from the surrounding paddy fields.
