Loktak Lake (2nd Amendment) Bill passed
CM sets record straight on fishing rights
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 22 2011:
With a view to protect fishing rights of fishing families settled in and around Loktak Lake, the State Assembly has passed the Manipur Loktak Lake Protection (2nd Amendment) Bill 2011 today.
The Bill was tabled at the State Assembly by House leader Okram Ibobi.
Giving his opinions on the amendment Bill, senior Opposition Member O Joy while observing that the Bill has been compromised to protect Loktak Lake as well as to safeguard the interests of those people who are dependent on the lake for their livelihood, asserted that the Bill merits consent of all the Members.
MLA T Mangibabu stated that the Government has been clearing phumdis in addition to removing other structures built on the lake.
He sought attention of the House to incorporate certain provisions in the Bill such as allowing fishing activities in both the buffer and core zones of the lake, construction of rest house inside Loktak Lake as was done on Dal Lake in Kashmir, extending loans to unemployed youths and institution of a fishermen welfare scheme.
MLA N Mangi proposed that fishermen should be allowed to catch fishes without levying any tax.
"It is not undue haste.
There is nothing illegal," he said.
Lalu Prasad, who strongly fought for the inclusion of minorities in the Bill, strongly opposed it saying it was not enough to tackle corruption.
He also opposed the inclusion of the Prime Minister under the Lokpal's ambit.
He demanded that ex-MPs should not be included within the Lokpal.
He also slammed Team Anna and asked the Government not to get cowed down by threats of fresh protests.
In his response, Chief Minister O Ibobi clarified that there was no question of prohibiting fishing activities in Loktak Lake.
He highlighted the dual necessity of saving the lake and also to protect the interests of people who are dependent on the lake.
There were many huts built on phumdis to facilitate fishing.
Due compensation for these phumdis has been already paid.
Taking advantage of the Government's policy to compensate for every cluster phumdis, several clusters of phumdis were planted anew and huts were built over them, Ibobi stated.
Even a family of five, built huts for each member.
On the other hand, around 3000/4000 phumdi dwellers have been discharging their excreta and faeces into the lake all these years, thereby severely aggravating the degree of pollution of Loktak Lake.
Stating that the huts were built of bamboo and straw, Ibobi iterated that one hut would not have cost even Rs 10,000. Nevertheless, the Government generously gave Rs 40,000 as alternative life package for every hut dismantled.
Photographs were taken when cheques were distributed to the hut owners.
Majority of the huts were dismantled by their own owners after assuring that they would build any more huts on the phumdis.
After taking away whatever materials that were retrievable, the remaining debris were set afire by their own owners.
But the media reported that the huts were burnt down by the Government.
The Chief Minister invited more suggestions in addition to providing larger boats and construction of rest houses for the welfare of fishing families.