National seminar on conservation of Sangai begins
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, November 25 2022:
Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata member Th Swarankumar has said that no outsiders will come to save the endangered Brow-antlered Deer, locally known as Sangai, found nowhere in the world but only in Manipur and the rare deer must be saved and protected only by local people.
Th Swarankumar made this remark at the inaugural session of a three-day national workshop cum seminar on 'A forest folklore and literature: The many faces of Sangai', which is being organised by Palem Panthou Cultural Trust at its Langjing Achouba, Imphal West office, on Friday.
Swarankumar, who attended as chief guest of the inaugural session, said it an undeniable fact that Sangai has made known Manipur to the world.
As Manipur state is becoming a tourist destina tion due to presence of Sangai this opportunity should be made known to every community of the state and capitalised upon, he stressed and called upon people of the state to shoulder the responsibility in saving Sangai.
Budha Chingtham, who was also present at the inaugural session of workshop cum seminar on the theme 'Lets raise public awareness and support for Sangai conservation' , pointed out that the floating biomass (Phumdi) of Loktak is the home of Sangai and the rare deer will vanish when there is no Phumdi at Loktak lake.
Phumdi at Loktak lake must be grown thicker to save Sangai but it was very unfortunate that the Phumdi at the lake are vanishing due to construction of Ithai Barrage, he opined and stressed the need for taking up necessary action while understanding this fact.
He further said that people residing around Keibul Lamjao have great role to play in saving Sangai while the government must do something extraordinary to find alternative livelihood means for people residing in and around Keibul Lamjao national park.
Altogether 15 scholars both from Manipur and outside will present their papers during the three day workshop cum seminar.