Thanga fish farmers to boycott Ningol Mela in protest
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 05 2012:
The fish farmers of Thanga area, which is one of the largest fish producing area in the state and has received a number of rewards in the regard during 'Ningol Mela', have decided to abstain themselves from participation in this year's Ningol Mela festival.
Speaking to Hueiyen Lanpao, Gulamjat, President of Livestock Rearing cum Fish Farmers Welfare and Loktak Lake Development Co-operative Society Ltd, said that since LDA has destroyed all the cage culture farms in Manungpat of Loktak Lake using security forces, the fish farmers of Thanga are not in a position to produce fish and hence will not be able to take part in 'Ningol Mela' like in previous years.
He further said that during Ningol Mela in previous years, fish farmers from Thanga area participated in huge numbers with a variety of fishes including Rohu, Kuri, Mirgal, Grass Carp, etc and bagged various prizes for producing largest quantity of fishes.
Expressing resentment over the action of the state government in destroying their cage culture farms and dragging them on to the roads, he said that it has become very hard for the fish farmers even to make both ends meet, forget about taking part in Ningol Mela.
"Cleaning up of phumdis along the main part of Loktak Lake is quite fair; however, destroying the cage culture farms in Manung pat is totally unreasonable and is condemnable.
The state has not even card to compensate the fish farmers for the loss incurred", he lamented.