Pumlenpat Lake, Manipur's second-largest waterbody, is on the verge of extinction.

Located about 68 kilometres South of Imphal, Pumlenpat Lake is struggling for its existence mainly because of human settlement and encroachments in and around it.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh inspected the dying lake on Monday, where he was greeted with placards reading, "Save Pumlenpat lake/wetland and welcome to Pumlenpat, the dying wetland."

Following the inspection, the Chief Minister directed officials to take the necessary steps to preserve and develop the lake and make it clean by August to attract tourists.

Concerning the settlements in and around the lake, the Chief Minister stated that if the settlements existed before the notification of the Reserved Forest Area, they could be exempted and provided with pattas.

At the same time, the Chief Minister urged against building structures on bodies of water to preserve the lake.

According to CM Singh, the state's wetlands must be revitalised to protect and restore the long-standing socio-cultural connection.

Image: esgindia.org

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