Wild birds return to flock at Yaralpat

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 8 : With Yaralpat now rejuvenated after it went through a critical phase of total extinction, wild birds are now seen feeding in the lake.
Yaralpat, located close to the Nongmaiching hill range in Imphal East district is known for extensive growth of Kombirei. But the lake was pushed to the verge of extinction by environmental changes and human activities.
Since five years back, the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change and the Yaralpat Integrated Farming Cooperative Society Limited have been working to restore the lake. After a water body covering two square Kms has been constructed, the lake has been somehow rejuvenated.
Yaralpat Integrated Farming Cooperative Society Limited secretary T Janaki told The Sangai Express that 82 members of the society took up the initiative of creating the water body in collaboration with the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change to revive Yaralpat which had undergone drastic changes due to global climate changes.       
As there is plenty of water in the lake now, fishes can be reared and the society has already earned some money out of rearing fishes, Janaki said.
Directorate of Environment and Climate Change Deputy Director Dr T Brajakumar said that wild birds flocking to the lake has shown that the lake has been rejuvenated.
Not long ago, Yaralpat existed as a lake only for namesake. It was revived in view of its historical and ecological significance, Dr Brajakumar said adding that the directorate has been planning to revive some other dying lakes/wetlands.
The directorate has also been working to cultivate Kombirei over an area of one acre within Yaralpat in collaboration with ICAR issuing tissue culture method, he said.
Developing a lake or a wetland improves micro climatic condition of the locality apart from alleviating economic condition of the surrounding people. Lakes or wetlands also help in combating climate change, he continued.
Some of the birds seen in Yaralpat are Lesser Whistling Teal (Tingri), Mallard  (Lam Nganu) and Indian Spotted Bill Duck (Nganu Parel).