CM vows welfare of fishers, warns NGOs
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 15 2022: Chief Minister N Biren on Thursday chaired a joint meeting with officials of Loktak Development Authority (LDA) and representatives of fishing community of Champu Khangpok Floating Village, Loktak Lake at his secretariat wherein he assured the fishers dependent on Loktak lake of all help to improve their livelihood.

Biren also cautioned that the government will initiative stringent punitive action against those foreign-funded NGOs trying to disturb development works at Loktak Lake - the G20 venue in Manipur.

During the meeting also attended by LDA chairman M Asnikumar Singh, the chief minister shared his thoughts, ideas and vision to conserve the state's treasured Loktak Lake and its associated wetlands including improvement of livelihood of fishing community dependent on the lake on priority basis.

The representatives of the fishing community also highlighted the hardships and obstacles faced by them on daily basis.

Various misunderstandings between the state government and fishing community of Loktak Lake regarding the lake's rejuvenation process to be taken up by the government with technical and financial support from the Asian Development Bank were cleared and the meeting reached a mutual understanding on various crucial issues.

It resolved to provide necessary assistance by the state government through LDA and the district administration concerned for improving the livelihood of the fishing community, including framing of a State Fishermen Welfare Policy by the Fisheries Department.

The joint meeting further decided to take up necessary measures by the stakeholders concerned to recognise Champu Khangpok Floating Village, Loktak Lake as a Heritage Floating Village in view of its unique traditional and heritage value.

A survey of Champu Khangpok Floating Village would also be conducted jointly by LDA, district administration and the fishing community at the earliest.

The chief minister instructed the LDA to initiate necessary measures to translate into action decisions taken in the meeting in consultation with district administration, departments and stakeholders concerned at the earliest, and also accepted invite by representatives of the fishing community for visiting Champu Khangpok Floating Village, Loktak Lake to see their living conditions personally.

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