This newspaper article caught my eye:
Fishermen in India's only natural floating village in Manipur to get ID cards
The article is about how the fisherfolk of the Champu Khangpok village will get identity cards so that they can benefit from government schemes.
This is not an ordinary village. It's floating on water! The extraordinary nature of this habitation led me to read up more on it.
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| Champu Khangpok villagers. (Pic X/@LDA_Manipur) |
UNIQUE FOUNDATION
The houses are built on phumdis or floating biomass formations.
They are primarily constructed from bamboo, aquatic vegetation, and plastic sheets, ensuring they remain lightweight yet resilient.
To strengthen the phumdis, additional biomass is periodically added underneath the huts. Wooden planks are often used to create pathways for safe movement across wet and uneven surfaces.
The phumdis, which can be as thick as two metres, are stable enough to support structures and provide buoyancy to the village, allowing it to float seamlessly on the lake's surface.
This village has around 100 huts and 400 people. This is just a ballpark figure since there doesn't seem to be an official record.
CHALLENGES
Although phumdis provide a stable base for the houses, the floating village faces several challenges.
Environmental factors, such as strong winds and changing water levels, can shift large masses of phumdi, occasionally disrupting the community. For example, there was an instance when extreme weather events trapped some villagers. That just demonstrated the vulnerability of these structures to climate variations.
To counter these challenges, residents have figured a way out -- they switched to traditional construction techniques and maintenance practices.
They also began using bamboo and stones to prevent the huts from drifting. The flexible nature of bamboo structures allowed them to withstand the movement of water and wind.
DAILY LIFE
The villagers' main source of income is fishing. Men typically fish, while women transport and sell the catch in local markets.
It's amazing how, for generations, the residents have coexisted with the uniquely rich biodiversity and resources of Loktak Lake. A remarkable example of harmony with nature.
Hari Om
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting place! Thank you for taking the time to study and tell us about it. YAM xx
Thank you, Yamini. I never knew such habitations existed.
DeleteVery interesting. Thanks for writing this blog post. I did not know about this until you wrote this post.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI wonder if living on that is like living on a houseboat. Fascinating that such villages exist. I hope they can continue on.
ReplyDeleteYes, quite possibly, it's like living in a houseboat.
DeleteI'd never heard of this village before Pradeep - it's definitely an example of human ingenuity working with what's available to create homes for those willing to put their thinking caps on.
ReplyDeleteHi Leanne - You are absolutely right. Ingenuity as well as survival instincts have led the people there to think of this method.
DeleteIt seems like a scary place to live. Was there any break-up of the biomass formations resulting in loss of lives? How many such villages are there in the lake? Would it not be the government's duty to settle the fishermen on the mainland close to the lake and free them from constant worry?
ReplyDeleteHi KP - From whatever I read online, I couldn't find any data that showed loss of lives. Looks like such habitations exist in other parts of the world. I don't think it's a very risky way of life. Otherwise the villagers themselves wouldn't have relied on it for habitation.
DeleteI've learned about this; it's fascinating. Be well!
ReplyDeleteWo what a place, I have not heard of this place till now and found the post very interesting
ReplyDelete