unique amongst other lakes, whereby
providing a space for exclusive
traditional form of fishing technique.
A large variety of edible plants also
grows on the phumdis which are
usually collected by the women and
children to economically support
their families. Indigenous vegetables
such as Loklei/ Takhellei, Pulei,
Komprek, Kambong, and medicinal
plant like Kabuyai (Dioscorea
bulbifera), used for diabetic control
are abundantly found in these
phumdis. Tou and Khoimom are
collected for the purpose of firewood.
Apart from these, they also collect
fodder for cattle and housing
materials.
Over the course of time, the
structures and composition of
these phumdis have been impacted
with the changing climate and by
the human interference. Due to
excess human encroachment and
many construction, modification,
intervention and restriction
imposed upon these Loktak Lake,
including the Ithai Barrage which
mainly impacts the water regime of
the lake, the rejuvenation process
of the phumdi is deterred. The
enchanting folklore of the fisherman
and their unique fishing technique
slowly diminishes in the flow of
management and conservation. Since
then, the features of the Loktak
Lake have changed drastically and
it has become more of a planned
structure than a natural beauty. Its
water level has increase significantly
through the years and due to
which the ecosystem of the floating
phumdis have degraded for it could
not maintain its thickness as it
regularly needs to have contact with
the bottom of the lake. But, the
higher water level due to the Barrage
prevented this process and hence the
phumdis floats continuously and is
thinning gradually due to lack of
nutrition. Due to leaching from the
nearby agricultural fields and from
its polluted streams that flowed into
it, the vegetation of the phumdi
proliferate extensively over the water
surface which at long run deteriorate
the quality of water and the overall
ecosystem of the lake.Such degradation of phumdis of the
Loktak Lake in the past few years has
been affecting the biodiversity of the
lake in many aspects. The numberof migratory birds has gone down
considerably. Also, many animals
inhabiting the phumdis, especially
the Sangai falls prey to declining
thickness of the phumdis as it could
no longer support the weight of
these animals. In addition to this, we
could see a change in the vegetation
patterns of the phumdis where major
compositions of plant species as
well as their density are reducing
significantly whereas predominant
increase in the alien or unwanted
plant species is seen. This situation
may further affect the availability of
food for the Sangai.Before the biodiversity of phumdi
vanishes from our eyesight, it is a
high time for every individual in
the State to take small steps towards
the preservation and management
of phumdis for the conservation
of Loktak Lake and its ecosystem.
Government departments, NGOs,
public, and local communities need
to come together with an indomitable
spirit for conservation of phumdis
and provide a favourable environment
for all flora and fauna which
completes the biodiversity of the
Loktak Lake.neScholar 0 vol 4 0 issue 4 53
PHUMDI I NATURE