Meet resolves against leasing out lake
Source: Chronicle News Service
Bishnupur, March 03 2022:
A public meeting organised by Ungamlen Lake Protection Committee (ULPC) on Thursday resolved against leasing out Ungamlen lake, which provides livelihood to people of Ithai, Ithai Wapokpi and Nongmaikhong villages near Keibul Lamjao, by the Fisheries Department to a firm from outside the state.
The meeting also decided to prohibit entry of non-locals.
Speaking at the meet held at Ithai Wapokpi under Kumbi assembly constituency, ULPC joint secretary Oinam Jiban informed that Ungamlen lake covers 200 paris of land (approximately 200 hectares) under Fishery No 112, out of which 50 paris are de-reserved.
People living nearby earn their livelihood from the lake and as such if acquired by Fisheries Department, it will be death knell for the people of the area.
Hence, the Fisheries Department must desist from leasing out 150 pari of the lake to the said company at the rate of Rs 13,000 per pari.
The department must retract its decision for the welfare of the villagers, he demanded.
On the other hand, ULPC vice president N Inaoba stated that the lake has been protected by the villages since ages.
They cannot accept lake's commercial exploitation by companies from outside the state.
The department must stop leasing out the lake for the profit of few rich people, he maintained.