The Loktak Lake, Manipur

The Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in North East India located 50 Kms from Imphal, in the State of Manipur,  famed for the shimmering blue water, labyrinthine boat routes, colourful water plants and the enigmatic phumdis.

Phumdis is an accrual of decay of organic garbage, soil particles thickened into a assorted mix of vegetation, soil and organic matter. During the rainy season the phumdis floats on the water and in the dry season it sinks to the bottom, with the roots deriving its nutrients from the soil, thereby ensuring survival of the biomass. 

However with the installation of the Loktak Hydroelectric Project the water levels remain high all around the year.  This  has created  disturbance in  the feeding of nutrients on lake bottom by the phumdis and hence lead to a loss of biomass and thinning of the islands with each passing year. In the process  two ecological systems have formed in the Loktak Lake , one, the body of open water covering one-third of the area and the other, the phumbi covering the remaining two-third. 

The lake is one of the most intriguing and picturesque eco systems if there ever was one. The length is 35 KM, the breadth of 13 KM, average depth of 2.7 metres and surface area of 287 sq KM. It plays an important role in providing ecological and economic security to the region and closely related with the lives of people in Manipur both socially and culturally. The water body has a  rich in biodiversity and has been designated as Wetland of International importance under Ramsar Convention in 1990. It serves as a source of water for hydro power generation, irrigation and drinking water. The Loktak Lake  is also a source of livelihood for the rural fisherman who live not only in the surrounding areas but also on the phumbis alias phumshongs. The name is derived from Lok “Stream” Tak “end” . The five major rivers of Manipur i.e Manipur river, the Iril, the Thoubal,the Sekmai and the Khuga with a combined catchment area of 7000 sq Km form the main source of water for the Loktak Lake. The ungamed channel or the Thai Barrage is its only outlet.

Fish is a staple diet in Manipur and indigenous fishing methods like Chinese fishing nets,

Longthrai net fishing, electro fishing etc. The most interesting is the indigenous fishing method known as the Azhaphum fishing, a unique age old traditional practice of fishing using phumdi. The Loktak Lake fisherman cut and drift chunks of phumdi fixed to the lake bottom using bamboo poles. An enclosure is built around the phumdi using poles and grass at level higher than the lake water to trap fish inside. This traditional knowledge of fixing phumdi using bamboo poles has been successfully applied in many of the management efforts of the park.

The lake had been inhabited by generations of the community of fisherman who live in traditional huts that precariously stand on bamboo stilts placed on the phumdis in the middle of the water body. Canoes were the only form of transport from the shore to the phumshong. Human activity had severe effects on the eco system of the lake.  A lot has changed over the years since the Loktak Lake (Protection) Act 2006 was introduced by the State authorities in order to conserve the lake and develop the area for tourism.      

The first sight of the Loktak lake was breathtaking, where everything and everyone that was beside this impressive body of water seems to fall into the background. The panoramic view of the lake was mesmerizing and spellbound as we sat hypnotized for a very long time letting our senses absorb the beautiful environs.  The water was crystal clear and upon that floated the phumdis as the winds shifted them, some floating together and some in isolation. A number of fishing canoes could be sighted, with fishermen calm and collective awaiting their next catch.  A lasting desire remained to experience  a night stay in one of the phumshong as it drifts gently with the wind tipping over the lake.  

The Sendra Island Tourist Home with an attached cafeteria, situated in the middle of the lake offers a stunning view of the lake, its rich plant and avian life. The southern part of the lake form the world’s only floating sanctuary the Keibul Lamjao National Park which is as fascinating as the Loktak lake.