Sit in staged; protestors scuffle with police
Source: Chronicle News Service
Bishnupur, July 31 2022:
A sit-in protest was organised jointly by Apunba Ngamee Sinmee Cooperative Society and Loktak Lake Floating Home Stay Association at Sendra on Sunday demanding the government to revoke its order for removal of home stays and 'Athaphums' (artificially grown phumdi) from Loktak lake as these are the only means of livelihood of the fishing community.
The protestors shouted slogans and put up placards denouncing government's order, demanding amendment of Loktak Protection Act, removal of Loktak project, etc.
Speaking at the protest venue, Cooperative Society member Kh Radhesana cautioned that the fishing community will resort to various agitations until the government takes back its order for removal of home stays and 'Athaphums' from Loktak lake.
On the other hand, Home Stay Association member Oinam Sorojini asserted that since the start of Loktak Project, the life of fishing community has been hugely affected with many species of fishes which were earlier found in the lake getting extinct.
The fishing community had been sustaining their family by building home stays for tourists and taking care of 'Athaphum' for rearing the fish, but now the government has ordered their removal, she added, while adding that considering this, the chief minister should relax the ban and instead of removal of home stays, the government should formulate rules and regulations for these structures.
Later, a scuffle broke out between the protestors and police as the latter tried to end the protest.