Human activities threaten Zaimeng Lake

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 25 : Zaimeng Lake, located on high altitude and which has a unique ecosystem of its own has been pushed to a very precarious situation on account of wanton human activities.
Zaimeng Lake is located 2215 metres above sea level within Kangpokpi district on the extended range of Koubru mountain. The lake’s water volume has decreased drastically over the years and most parts of the lake is almost dry during winter.
Except for its immediate banks, the surrounding hill ranges are totally barren and are devoid of any trees or vegetation.
Travelling along IT Road, Zaimeng Lake is located about 16 Kms away from Kangpokpi Bazar.
To the West, the lake is connected with Irang River through a small stream.    
It is connected with some  small lakes and emerges as a subterranean stream at T Khullen Changoubung before joining the Imphal River in the East.
A team of media persons visited the lake on February 22 as a part of AMWJU’s media campaign “Know your sanctuaries and Wetlands” which is sponsored by the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change.
Some of the villages located on the surrounding mountain range are Thonglang Atongba, Thonglang Akutpa and Chawangkining.
Chawangkining village former chairman Wisobou Charanmei said that different species of trees like Uningthou, U-Thambal, Leihao and bamboos were growing abundantly on the mountain ranges surrounding Zaimeng Lake some 20/30 years back.  
The lake presented a splendid and captivating sight during those days, he said.
It is believed that Zaimeng Lake was named so after some ancestors of Thonglang village lost their way around the lake. Zaimeng means confusion or bafflement, Wisobou said.
Saying that the lake shared a symbiotic relationship with the nearby villages since centuries, the former village chairman said that villages used to gather firewood and practice terraced cultivation on the mountain ranges surrounding the lake.
Deforestation activities reached an alarming level as the villagers started cultivation of potato and poppy on the mountain ranges, he said.
Chawangkining village secretary Daniel Charanmei  said that the villagers of Thonglang Akutpa, Thonglang Atongba and Chawangkining ultimately realised their folly and banned poppy cultivation as well as agricultural activities within 3 Km radius of Zaimeng Lake since 2018.
Even as Chief Minister N Biren assured all possible assistance from the side of his Government towards conservation of Zaimeng Lake, nothing has been done by the Government to save the lake till date, he decried.
Expressing keen desire to develop Zaimeng lake as a popular tourist destination, the village secretary urged the Government to construct a motorable road till Chawangkining and Bebopuson.
He also expressed keen desire to launch an extensive reforestation campaign around the lake together with local villagers. Zaimeng Lake is indeed a splendid lake and it can be definitely saved if the Government works with the required dose of political will, he said. If the lake can be restored to its pristine condition and IT Road which is connected to the lake is developed as a standard highway, the lake has all the potential to become an international tourism destination, many villagers told this reporter.