No to Sangai at Pumlen Paat
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 24 2018:
Nongmaikhong Awang Social Reformatic Association has conveyed that it is extremely illogical to convertPumlenPaat (Hiyanglam Kendra, Kakching district) into the second home of the Sangai and has appealed to the State Government to revoke its decision at the earliest.
Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club today, the association president Salam Joy said that the steps taken up by the Government to protect the endangered Sangai is indeed laudable but the attempt to convert Pumlen Paat into the second home of the Sangai is extremely illogical.
The said lake is the major source of livelihood for many, people of the district, he explained and condemned the Government's attempt to disrupt the lives of the people by attempting to bring Sangai to the area.
Demanding the Government to revoke its decision at the earliest, he appealed to the Government not to try and destroy the lives of the people in the area.
Joy explained that Pumlen Paat has no floating phumdis where the Sangai can adapt and survive and the only phumdis are all submerged ones.
Trying to bring the animal to Pumlen Paat will not only aid in decreasing the already low number of the endangered deer but will also adversely affect the people of the surrounding areas, he claimed.
On the other hand, Salam Joy rebuffed the reports provided by the Government, Forest Department and Wild Life Institute of Science regarding the 60 squace kilometres area covered by Pumlen Paat and claimed that the area/lake has no food source for the Sangai.
If the State and the Central Government work tirelessly to improve the condition at Keibul Lamjao National Park, it will go a long way towards ensuring the survival of the Sangai.
Pumlen Paat is the major source of livelihood for the people, he added and appealed to the Government to revoke its decision at the earliest for the welfare of the people.