Loktak: Loktak Lake is not just a water body. It is memory, life, and pride of Manipur. This strong message came from M. Asnikumar Singh, Chairman of the Loktak Development Authority (LDA), as he spoke at length on the value of the lake and its place in the state’s history and daily life.

Calling Loktak Lake the treasurer of Manipur civilisation, Singh said the lake has shaped the social and cultural journey of the people for generations. He explained that many settlements grew along its banks and still depend on it for fishing, farming, and small trade. The lake, he said, feeds families, supports livelihoods, and keeps age old traditions alive. “To protect Loktak is to protect Manipur itself,” he said.

Singh spoke about how the lake is deeply linked to the identity of the state. Festivals, folklore, food habits, and local customs all carry the mark of Loktak. He added that the lake has always acted as a natural lifeline, giving water, food, and shelter to both people and wildlife.

During the interaction, the LDA chairman also made special arrangements for members of the NEIR team to take a guided tour of the lake. He said such visits help people see Loktak beyond pictures and reports. “When you see it up close, you understand both its beauty and its pain,” he said, stressing the need for awareness, study, and responsible tourism.

Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in the Northeast and is known across the world for its floating phumdis, thick mats of vegetation that drift with the water. Within the lake lies Keibul Lamjao National Park, the only floating national park on earth. It is the last natural home of the rare Sangai deer, often called the dancing deer of Manipur. Singh said this makes Loktak globally important, not just locally valuable.

He also spoke about the lake’s role in nature. Loktak helps control floods, supports a wide range of fish species, and provides shelter to thousands of migratory birds each year. It also helps regulate the local climate. “If Loktak survives, many lives survive with it,” Singh remarked, adding that development must never come at the cost of destruction.

The programme saw the presence of several dignitaries. KRC Foundation’s managing trustee and CEO Biswadeep Gupta attended the event along with other guests and officials. They shared their views on conservation, community involvement, and the need for long term planning to save the lake.

Singh also praised the KRC Foundation for taking the initiative to organise the North East Integration Rally. The Chairman had hosted a reception to the visiting team at Sendra in Loktak and recieved them with a warm welcome.

He said such efforts play a key role in spreading awareness and bringing people together for a common cause. He added that protecting Loktak Lake needs support from the government, civil society, and local communities alike.

The event ended with a clear call to treat Loktak Lake not just as a resource to use, but as a heritage to protect. In his closing words, Singh said Loktak is not only the past of Manipur. It is also its future, and saving it is a shared responsibility.

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