Extension of lifespan of Loktak Hydroelectric Power Project for another 25 years, a proposal of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited’s (NHPC), received strong objections from the stakeholders concerning the Loktak Lake.
The Loktak Hydroelectric Power Project had a lifespan of 35 years which had completed in 2018 but was then extended for another five years and now NHPC seeking further extension for another 25 years.
The NHPC has recently sought approval from the Union ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on leasing the fresh life to the project for another 25 years.
The proposal received a strong objection from various quarters and a people’s convention on the topic “Impact of Loktak Hydro Electric project in Manipur” held on December 10 had resolved to oppose the extension of lifespan of the project and related activities of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation’s on Loktak Lake for another 25 years.
While adopting the resolution, the convention alleged that NHPC Ltd has exceeded its intended lifespan and since then people have raised concerns about its adverse environmental impact on the ecosystem and livelihoods of thousands of individuals in Manipur valley.
All Loktak Lake Areas Fishers Union, Manipur (ALLAFUM), a body of fishermen of Loktak Lake, strongly condemned the arbitrary move of the NHPC while joining the chorus objecting to the extension of the lifespan of the project.
In a statement, ALLAFUM alleged that the NHPC sought the extension of the project without taking into confidence the concerned Manipur government and the thousands of fisher and farmer families affected by the hydro project since it was commissioned in 1983.
The ALLAFUM questioned the motive behind NHPC not informing the Loktak Development Authority, the Manipur government and the Loktak fishing community as primary stakeholders for placing the proposal before the government of India.
The NHPC proposed furthering the productivity lifespan of the project without first addressing four decades of ecological and human disasters due to the functioning of the man-made structure Ithai Barrage which has been the bone of contention between the project managers and the people of Manipur for nearly forty years now.
The NHPC must clarify their stand to the people of Manipur on how they propose to rehabilitate and resettle the thousands of human population impacted by the project, and how they propose to bring back the near natural status of the freshwater lake which is now termed as ‘ageing rapidly’ due to the human-led engineering intervention by the project managers, the fishers’ body demanded.
“ALLAFUM makes its stand very clear that unless NHPC clarifies on these issues, it cannot go ahead with its plans to lease new life to the destructive Loktak hydro project,” the statement signed by ALLAFUM secretary Oinam Rajen Singh asserted.
It alleged that the people of the state have suffered extensively because of the hydro project and the lives of the lake dependent communities cannot be further exploited by the project for another two decades and more.
“The Loktak fishing community is suffering acutely from declining fish population in the lake and this is directly impacted by Ithai Barrage of the Loktak hydro project,” it also said.
It added that Loktak is suffering from siltation, pollution and eutrophication, and the native vegetation of food and fodder value is fast disappearing from the lake.
“Loktak is suffering massive biodiversity loss because of the hydro project,” the ALLAFUM stated while calling upon the Manipur government to redress the grievances of the affected people before any move to extend the lifespan of the project is considered.
The NHPC should not be allowed to freely extend the project’s lifespan without taking the people’s concerns into confidence, the ALLFUM warned.
