Pony farm abode of people, not pony
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 12 2009: Although known worldwide for its sturdiness, agility and sure-footedness, the rare breed of Manipuri pony is facing a bleak future with the State Government and the citizens paying little attention to the suffocating condition these horses are being subjected to.

This is well exemplified by the Government pony farm established at Tingkai Khunou with all the tell-tale signs of utter negligence.

The pony farm which has been turned into a colony of human habitation and inset the chief's house on the farm at Tingkai Khunou at Senapati district

Basically established to raise pony population, the farm itself is facing an uncertain future with the local people in the process of taking it over completely.

The farm spanning over an area of 300 acres was set up after an agreement was signed by the Senapati DC and the Veterinary Director on behalf of the Government and the Tingkai Khunou village Authority in 1988 .

A survey conducted by this reporter found local people encroaching on the farm and building their houses.

There was no sign of the farm adding any new member to the existing population of pony.

Earlier, Tingkai Khunou village was centred in the hills, beyond the farm compound.

But since two years back, the villagers started building houses at the foothills within the farm compound.

It appeared that the whole Tingkai Khunou village has been shifted within the farm.

Around 50 houses could be observed within the farm in addition to a sign-board emblazoned with the words 'Tingkai Khunou'.

Well developed vegetable farms/kitchen gardens, cow sheds and pig stys could also be observed all around the houses.

The villagers have been literally claiming several portions of the farm as their homesteads.

Altogether nine quarters including one Type-I quarter, one Type-II quarter, six Type-III quarters and one Type-IV quarter, built for housing officials of the pony farm had their roofs blown away during a recent gale.

The nine roofless quarters have been dismantled by the villagers.

Bricks obtained from the dismantled quarters have been used in building drains under NREGS. Other bricks and steel rods obtained from the dismantled quarters were seen piled up at the courtyard of the Tingkai Khunou village chief.

In addition to footpaths between houses, one Church is also under construction.

The villagers have also started developing a play ground on the southern side of the farm.

The area where the houses have been built used to be the grazing ground of ponies.

It has been a week since ponies have been taken to Mithun farm located at Tingkai Khullen for grazing.

One FA, one Attendant, one LDC, one Chowkidar and a Veterinary Doctor are posted in the farm.

Earlier, seven Muster Roll employees were also working in the farm.

But they gave up their jobs following prolonged non-payment of salaries.

The FA and the Attendant said that since the farm ceased its normal functions in 2003-04, the Veterinary Doctor used to come to the farm occasionally only to go back on the same day.

At present, the farm has 22 horses including seven fully matured ones.

With the horses refusing to eat the grasses growing around the farm and the officials unable to meet their ends from the salaries, certain portion of the farm was also used in agricultural activities.

As such, the horses were sent to Mithun farm for grazing.

The horses were not brought to the farm at night too, they said.

Some villagers of Tingkai Khunou said that they shifted together inside the farm due to frequent gun-fights between KNF and KNA at their earlier place of settlement.

They conceded that no permission was taken from the Government when they shifted their village within the pony farm although the matter was intimated to the then MLA of Saitu Assembly constituency in 2006 .

The villagers shifted to the farm following approval from the MLA.

The village authority has submitted an appeal to the State Government to allow settlement inside the farm, they conveyed.