Fibre canoes : State first in NE
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 26 2015: Manipur has become the first State in the whole North East region to produce fishing and paddle canoes/boats made of fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP), said M/s Ranjoy Plastic Industry proprietor Khumanthem Ratankumar.

Speaking to reporters at Takyelpat Industrial Estate, Ratankumar said that his industry has taken the initiative of producing fishing and paddle boats made of fibre with an aim to supply comfortable fishing boats to the fishermen of the State.

He said that the fishing boats manufactured at his firm is convenient for use in feeding in fish farms.

Unlike wooden boats, fibre boats are durable and easy to handle, he said.

Saying that Manipur has seen mushrooming of parks and tourists places in the past few years, Ratankumar said that fibre paddle boats are mostly supplied to these parks.

As his industry has started producing fibre boats, people of the State are no longer compelled to shell out huge amount of money as transportation charges in procuring these boats from other States, he said.

Ratankumar further said that his industry can even export these products to Myanmar if the Government of India includes these items in the list of items for border trade.

Ratankumar began his venture of producing plastic household items after he received a PG Diploma degree in plastic processing and testing from CIPET in 2000 .

Later, he secured work allotment from the Government industrial estate and set up M/s Ranjoy Plastic Industry in 2005 .

Ratankumar said that his industry also produces doors, windows and water tanks made of FRP, fibre-glass dustbins, fibre glass sculptures, dining table, wall and ceiling decorative items.

Ratankumar further said that although fibre items generally last around 90 years, his industry's items are guaranteed for 50 years, he said.

He added that fibre items are light and 100 per cent water and weather proof.

Contending that his industry had produced 150-person capacity boat for the tourists of Loktak Lake Ratankumar said that all the wooden boats/canoes would be replaced with within three years.

According to size, a fibre canoe costs between Rs 20,000 and Rs 35,000 .

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