CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF LOKTAK LAKE AND ITS IMPACTS ON LOCAL PEOPLE’S LIVELIHOOD

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:Land use and land cover changes vary in accordance with relief, climatic conditions and other socio - economic requirements of individuals. Land resources fulfil the primary and secondary human needs, i.e., food, shelter, industries, recreation, communication and economic security (Stamp, 1960). Land use is a phenomenon which undergoes ever changing with the growing needs of human beings. These changes in land use patterns are more specific in the marginal and climatically severe regions. Rapid expansion of human populations in the recent decades coupled with widespread unscientific land use practices have resulted into decline in the land to man ratio and shifting from an extensive cultivation practices to intensive ones (Oinam et al., 2005); (Kuniyal, 1996); (Ramakrishnan et al., 2000); (Bilsborrow and Okoth-Ogendo,1992). Therefore, sustainable utilisation of land resources becomes utmost important to achieve sustainable development and food security of the ever increasing human population (Oinam et al., 2004-05).The current study attempts to assess the land use land cover changes taking place in the catchments of Loktak Lake as a result of impoundment for hydropower generation. Literature pertaining to studies in land use and land cover changes for the area is scanty, even though many studies were conducted by different scholars on other important aspects. For instance, WAPCOS (1993) conducted an extensive study on Loktak Lake, focusing on issues and challenges pertaining wetland degradation. The report emphasises the need of multidisciplinary approaches to counter the problems of siltation, flood, watershed degradation, weed infestations, etc. Presence ofphumdis (floating vegetative mats) is one of the natural features of Loktak Lake. In a series of studies conducted by the Loktak Development Authority (LDA, 1996); (LDA, 1999) in the lake, the urgent need for control and management of phumdis was highlighted. Singh and Moirangliema (2009a) had also studied on phumdi proliferation in Loktak Lake. Water quality status, water borne morbidities of the lake and its conservation measures were studied by other authors (Laishram and Dey, 2014); (Singh and Devi, 2006). Some other researchers also contributed their thought on watershed management and conservation of the Lake (Singh and Moirangleima, 2009b); (Shamungaou, 2007); (Singh and Moirangleima, 2009c); (Singh and Moirangleima, 2012). The results obtained in all these studies hinted that the ecosystem and environment in and around the Lake has been changing gradually due to anthropogenic activities.RESEARCH METHODS:Loktak Lake and the Study Sites:Loktak Lake (24o25' N to 24o42' N and 93o46' E to 93o55'E) is spread over five valley districts of Manipur. It is the second largest freshwater in India covering an area of about 286 km2 at the elevation of 768.5 m amsl. During the rainy season the Lake water swelled up to ~490 km2. The lake has direct catchment area of ~980 km2 and indirect catchment area of ~7,157 km2. About 34 streams, coming from the western hills and the Imphal River drains into the lake. Loktak in actuality comprises of 20 water bodies of different sizes. The landscape becomes quite distinct during the dry season but the water bodies merged and forms single water spread during the rainy months. The current study area comprises of three hillocks within the lake area viz., Thanga, Karang and Ithing (Fig. 1). The hillocks are situated around 50 km south (on road distance) from the capital city, Imphal. The villages in the hillocks truly represent lake settlement and are spread over 3.22 km2. Development of road network in the state has made inroads into some of the larger and populous hillocks like Thanga and Ithing half a century ago. The hillocks in Karang remain untouched by the expanding road network and still represent a typical island settlement. There are 2458, 299 and 297 households in Thanga, Ithing and Karang village (Census, 2011), inhabiting a total population of 14316, 1832 and 1859 individuals. …