This chapter explores Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India, focusing on its ecological, socio-cultural, and political significance. Loktak is a biodiversity hotspot, home to numerous species of fish, birds, and the endangered Sangai deer. The indigenous Meitei community relies on the lake for food and livelihood. It is also the material basis for their cultural practices. However, state-led development projects, particularly the Loktak Hydroelectric Project and Ithai Barrage, have disrupted the lake’s hydrology, causing permanent flooding, loss of biodiversity, and the degradation of Phumdis. These changes have severely impacted the traditional livelihood patterns of the Meitei people. In response, indigenous communities have mobilized against state policies, forming organizations like the All Loktak Lake Areas Fishermen’s Union Manipur (ALLAFUM) to advocate for conservation and indigenous rights. This chapter examines the intersection of environmental degradation, state interventions, and indigenous resistance in Loktak. The indigenous Meitei community asserts their right to life, livelihood, and resources in the lake, emphasizing their deep entanglement with the ecosystem and their traditional fishing practices. They demand government recognition of their rights, including the preservation of floating huts and community-based fishing traditions, which they see as part of their heritage. In response to ecological and developmental threats, they resist through conservation efforts, educational campaigns, and solidarity networks to protect both their way of life and the wetlands.