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Impact of Phumdi Proliferation on the resident birds of Loktak Lake (Manipur)
By K.Jugeshor Singh
Introduction:
The Loktak (24 2 5'-24 42'N,93 46'-93 55'E), a Ramsar site, though a eutrophic lake maintained a somewhat healthy ecosystem before the commissioning of the controversial Loktak Hydro Electric Project .This internationally important and biologically-rich lake besides
being a unique wintering ground of various migratory waterfowls was the permanent home of many resident water birds.
Resident Water birds of Loktak:
Some important resident water birds of Loktak and its surrounding wetlands include Little grebe, Tacybtus ruficollis (Uthit); Cattle egret, Bulbulcus ibis (sandung-il); Purple heron, Ardeola grayii; Ardea purpurea (Ushai saingang );Night heron, Nycticorax mycticorax(chongkhu) pond heron ;Bitterns, Ixobrychus sps.(Hongai);Lessor whistling teal, Dendrocygna javanica (Tingee); Spotbill duck, Anaspoecilor hyncha (nganu pirel); cotton teal, Nettapus coromandelianus (Pedagot); Watercock, Gallicrex cineria (uthum); Purple moorhen, Porphyrid,(Uren); Bronzewinged
jacana, Metopidius indicus (Thamnachenbi) and Pheasant-tail ed jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus (Yen pouraba).
Phumdi Proliferation versus Birds:
The damming of Loktak Lake at ethai (Itthai) Barrage across the Manipur River for the storage of water to generate electricity has completely altered the natural process of phumdis in the lake arising out of damming has invited many serious threats to water birds of Loktak.
Some of the important problems encountered are-
Loss of open water space:
Resident water birds need enough open water space for a number of activities like swimming, resting, feeding etc. But, today nearly 70-80%of the vast lake surface is being covered by phumdis inviting a serious threat to the winged vertebrates.
Loss of aquatic vegetation/plants:
Aquatic plants such as, water chestnut; giant water lily and lotus are inseparably associated with some resident birds of the lake like - Pheasant-tailed jacana etc. as they form part of their (birds0
habitat. But, today these plants are considerably decreased in their population sizes as compared with the past due to factors like high water level and presence of phumdis at a certain place throughout the year. Habitat destruction is the most serious challenge to the existence of wildlife.
Loss of food:
Fishes, aquatic insects, certain aquatic plants and crustaceans particularly snails form the main food of the water birds. However, shortage of open water space and probably insufficient water quality resulting out of massive proliferation of phumdis the population sizes of these animals and plants are sharply decreasing in recent years. This is a threat to the birds consuming these organisms.
Loss of breeding ground:
Resident water birds like Pheasant-tailed jacana, bronze winged jacana and Little grebe lay their eggs directly on the floating aquatic vegetation. Therefore, loss of aquatic plants is a serious threat to the existence of these near extinct birds of the lake. Birds like - Spotbill duck, Cotton teal, Pheasant-tailed jacana and Bronze winged jacana never reach triple figure in their population (Waterfowl counts of Loktak Lake, 2000-01)
Anthropogenic activities:
As the huge lake is being occupied by phumdis in all the strategic areas, human activities like fishing, fodder and vegetable collection etc are now shifting from the lake to the surrounding wetlands where the water birds are sheltering. This poses a serious threat to these birds particularly during the breeding season.
Recommendations/suggestions:
1. The natural process of draining the sediment and phumdis along the Manipur River through Khordak and other channels be restored.
2. Awareness campaign amongst local fisherman particularly those engaged in phumdis fishing be organized to educate them to reduce the number of Athaphum and its impact on the lake.
3. Awareness campaign among local people particularly the NGOs be organized to educate them the importance of conservation of birds and their habitats to strengthen the biological diversity of the lake.
4. A bird sanctuary be created/developed at a suitable place of the lake preferably at Takmu, Hubidak and Laisoi pat areas.
5. A status survey of the resident water birds of Loktak and its surrounding wetlands be conducted.'
6. Close season be declared in the breeding ground areas. Besides, awareness campaign be organized to educate the local people to stop killing of birds, collection of eggs, and any sort of disturbances during breeding season.
****This paper was presented at the Workshop on Management of Loktak Lake: 22-24 January 2002.****
(The author is at the Department of Zoology, Kumbi College, Kumbi Manipur) |
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