MPPPWA demands ponies' grazing ground
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 16 2018: The Manipur Pony & Polo Players Welfare Association (MPPPWA) has demanded the State Government to provide a grazing ground for the highly endangered Manipuri Ponies at the NIT campus of Lamphel after shifting the NIT elsewhere in place of the annual financial aid of around Rs 9000 given to polo clubs.

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, MPPPWA advisor K Dhanachandra citing Livestock Census of 2012 said that Manipuri Ponies which are closely associated with the history and culture of Manipur since the mythological age are highly endangered and are on the verge of extinction.

On account of the fast disappearing grazing grounds, the rare Manipuri Ponies are moving around roads, markets and other public places in search of food thereby causing serious inconveniences to the public, he said.

The State Government set up the Marjing Polo Complex in 2013 under the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department.

Around 50 horses (ponies) were taken to the complex even before it was inaugurated.

An amount of Rs 163.23 lakh was sanctioned for setting up Marjing Polo Complex and another Rs 5 8.3 2 lakh was invested for construction of compound fence and horse sheds.

However, ponies kept at the complex were not fed and they were literally starving.

As the horses grew very weak due to malnourishment, they were brought out of the complex, Dhanachandra said.

Earlier in 1990-91, the Government set up a pony breeding farm at Tingkai Khunou.

Although several crores were invested in the pony breeding farm, it did not breed any foal, he decried.

Moreover, no concrete policy has been framed till date to promote the game of Sagol Kangjei even after Sagol Kangjei has been already declared as the State game.

He then appealed to the Government to stop protecting ponies only on table but provide an appropriate grazing ground for ponies.

The most suitable grazing ground for ponies is Lamphelpat.

He suggested that NIT should be shifted from Lamphelpat to elsewhere to make space for an ample grazing ground for the highly endangered Manipuri Ponies.

Saying that the State Government has been planning to construct a statue of pony at the cost of several crores atop Heingang Hill, he further appealed the Government to invest similar amounts for protection and preservation of ponies.

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