Why in the News?
A recent Nagaland University study has raised alarms over the deteriorating ecological health of Loktak Lake, India’s largest freshwater lake and a designated Ramsar Site (since 1990) in Manipur.
Key Findings of the Study:
- Core Issue: Land-use changes such as agriculture expansion, human settlements, and shifting cultivation (jhum) are deteriorating the water quality of rivers feeding the lake.
- Sampling and Rivers: Water quality analysis was done across nine major rivers draining into Loktak, linking land-use patterns with water quality indicators such as dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), and temperature.
- Polluted Rivers:
- Nambul River recorded the lowest oxygen levels and highest organic contamination, influenced by 47% agricultural land and 11% settlement areas in its sub-catchment.
- Khuga River had the second poorest quality due to 42% shifting cultivation (jhum).
- Iril and Thoubal Rivers, flowing through dense forested areas, showed better water quality, underscoring the protective role of forests.
About Loktak Lake:
- Overview: Situated in Manipur, about 40 km from Imphal, it is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India.
- Unique Feature: Known for its floating biomass called phumdi (in the Meitei language), a mixture of soil, vegetation, and organic matter that supports unique aquatic life.
- Ecological Significance: The Keibul Lamjao National Park, the world’s only floating national park and habitat of the endangered brow-antlered deer (Sangai), forms an integral part of the lake ecosystem.
- Hydrology: Fed by nine major rivers, including Khuga, Western, Nambul, Imphal, Kongba, Iril, Thoubal, Heirok, and Sekmai and drained through the Ithai Barrage.
- Global Recognition:
- Declared a Ramsar Site in 1990, signifying its international ecological importance.
- Listed under the Montreux Record in 1993 for undergoing ecological degradation.
- Biodiversity: Hosts 132 plant species and 428 animal species, supporting fisheries, hydropower generation, transport, and tourism.
- Socioeconomic Role: Provides livelihoods for local communities through fishing, agriculture, and tourism while regulating floods and water supply in the Imphal valley.
| [UPSC 2015] Which of the following National Parks is unique in being a swamp with floating vegetation that supports a rich biodiversity?
Options: (a) Bhitarkanika National Park (b) Keibul Lamjao National Park* (c) Keoladeo Ghana National Park (d) Sultanpur National Park |
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