BJP lambasts Manipur Government for removing around 135 numbers of caged phumdis
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 09, 2012:
BJP State unit has lambasted the State Government for removing around 135 numbers of caged phumdis used for catching fishes after serving notice just two/three days back.
Speaking to media persons at their office today, BJP State unit vice-president Salam Ibohal said that a large number of fishermen have been enduring grave financial difficulties after 1100 phumdis on which the fishermen were taking shelter besides using them for catching fishes were burnt down by the Government in November last year.
For this, the Government gave a trifling Rs 40,000 to the fishing families as compensation.
Ibohal appealed to the Government to stop the caged phumdi removal drive in Loktak Lake which began since yesterday.
These phumdis were being used by the Livestock Rearing cum Fish Farmers and Loktak Lake Development Cooperative Society for catching fishes thereby providing the only source of livelihood to around 400 families.
Significantly, the society was already recognised by Fishery Department.
In place of the Government's notice to remove the caged farming phumdis within a week, the deadline should be extended till November this year, the BJP vice-president demanded.
If the phumdis are removed when the fishes being reared there are yet to attain weight of 2/3 Kgs, the fishing families would suffer miserably as they have no alternative source of livelihood.
As such, removal of caged farming phumdis at this moment would be nothing less than murdering the helpless fish farmers, he asserted.
In case the Government is determined to remove the phumdis, LDA should give compensation to the fish farmers for the fishes they are rearing in the lake, he added.