Around 60 fisher families living in shelter huts (Khangpok-shang) built on floating biomass, known as phumdi, have been trapped for over two weeks. A large biomass of phumdi was swept across the lake towards the northwest by strong winds, cutting off their access
TFM Desk
A collective of doctors serving at the Department of Community Medicine, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, came forward to assist beleaguered fishing families of Champu Khangpok floating island village in Loktak Lake, with foodstuff, medicine, and hygiene items on Wednesday.
Around 60 fisher families living in shelter huts (Khangpok-shang) built on floating biomass, known as phumdi, have been trapped for over two weeks. A large biomass of phumdi was swept across the lake towards the northwest by strong winds, cutting off their access.
Strong winds blowing from the south-northwest since July 15th have caused a large mass of thick biomass to accumulate in the Birahari-pat area of the lake. As a result, the Champu Khangpok floating island village has been surrounded by over two square kilometers of vegetation, blocking all possible passages and trapping the fisher families within.
Champu Khangpok fishers sent out distress calls urging people to assist with any possible help as their foodstuff stock was steadily running out since they could not come out to buy essentials. They also requested medical supplies, as many among the fisher families are falling ill from the polluted water and foul smell caused by filth deposited into the lake by the Nambul River.
In response to their distress call, doctors serving at the Department of Community Medicine, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences contributed financially to buy foodstuff, medicine and hygiene items for the affected fisher families. Soibam Boby Devi, a field coordinator for the People’s Resources Development Association (PRDA) based in Bishnupur, donated INR 3,000 in her individual capacity to assist the distressed fishers.
The relief materials were handed over to the Champu Khangpok fishers led by ALLAFUM president Heisnam Arun Kumar and secretary Oinam Rajen, by Manipur State Wetland Authority technical committee member Salam Rajesh and PRDA field coordinator Soibam Boby Devi at Ningthoukhong water front on Wednesday.
Champu Khangpok floating island village is located around 2 kilometers south from the Nambul River mouth point where the river flows directly into Loktak Lake. Filth and garbage from the Imphal city area are carried by the Nambul River and duly deposited without restrain into the freshwater lake. The Champu Khangpok villagers are directly impacted by the large volume of filth flowing into the lake.