Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 23 2009:
Thanga Heisnam Ngami-Shinmi Kanba Lup, Thanga Heisnam Leikai has decided to restrict entry of LDA officials in the locality until payment of compensation for the Athaphum (artificially grown phumdis) to the genuine fish-farmers of Thanga Heisnam Leikai.
Highlighting the grievances of the fish farmers and petitioning payment of due compensation for the Athaphums, representatives of Thanga Heisnam Ngami-Shinmi Kanba Lup today called on LDA Director and submitted a memorandum.
Talking to The Sangai Express in this connection, secretary of the Lup H Sarachandra informed that a proposal for payment of compensation to over 500 fish farmers who depended on the Athaphums had been submitted to the LDA.
The LDA had also subsequently approval the proposal.
However, in the meantime, MLA of Thanga A/C prepared and submitted another list of fish farmers on whose basis LDA is planning to release a sum of Rs 15,000 each as compensation for the Athaphums.
Interestingly, in the list prepared by the MLA, there are beneficiaries who are not residing in Thanga Heisnam Leikai and who are working as college lecturer or in the service of Army, he alleged.
For the last 3 years genuine fish farmers and owners of the Athaphums in Heisnam Leikai have been urging the LDA not to entertain the list prepared and submitted by the MLA but to honour the already approved list, the secretary informed.
He further informed that during the meeting today, the LDA Director revealed that a new list of 220 fish farmers has been prepared and they would be provided the compensation.