United Committee Thinungei welcomes decision of State Govt
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 20 2019:
United Committee Thinungei (UCT) has lauded the State Government's decision to announce the first Bird Sanctuary of Manipur at Thinungei village.
Saying that a strong majority of the villagers are supporting the initiative of the Government, a press release issued by H Romen Singh, general secretary, UCT alleged that a small group of people are raising their voice against the declaration by holding different protest demonstrations to continue their hold over the State land illegally encroached by them.
Maintaining that the proposed area, as per the Government notification, is 103.10 hectares (1,031 Sq Km) which comprises of 13.93 ha of swampy area, 35.37 ha of floating biomass (Phumdi) and 53.80 ha of open water, it claimed that the total State land in the eastern side of Thinungei adjoining Loktak Lake is 84.3 ha out of which only 13.93 ha will be covered under the Bird Sanctuary as the remaining 70.3 ha is being illegally encroached by individuals with vested fishing business.
One of the claims of the agitators which said that they do not have sufficient area for fishing is true because most of the swampy areas have been encroached by the self interested people , it claimed and urged the State Government to intervene as the real fishermen are not allowed even to enter the encroached areas.
The statement further claimed that the fishermen have not protested against such illegal activities of the encroachers till date but are protesting against a small areas which is to be used for the development of the whole village.
Alleging that many of the fisherman are engaged in fishing by electrocuting, poisoning and poaching of waterbird, which are against the Wildlife Protection Act and Environment Protection Act, it claimed that the agitators have spread misinformation and even collected signatures, mostly with coercion, from the villagers to serve their motive.
United Committee Thinungei is constituted with 13 clubs, association and meira paibi organisations as the founding members.
The main purpose of the committee is to assist the Government in safeguarding the establishment and maintenance of the declared bird sanctuary, it added.