Grazing grounds of Manipur pony under threat; MP&PWA appeals for release of grant-in-aid
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 30 2024: The fate of the famous Manipur pony hangs in balance with swelling human population and the consequent pressure on land posing a huge threat to their grazing fields, said the Manipuri Pony and Polo Players Welfare Association (MP&PWA).

Members of the Association accompanied by mediapersons inspected the condition of ponies kept at Hapta Kangjeibung today.

Following this, Wangkheirakpam Bronson, joint secretary, Manipuri pony and Polo Players Welfare Association said that due to inundation of Lamphelpat where the ponies were previously kept and the onset of farming/ sowing season, the ponies were herded and shifted to Hapta Kangjeibung, Palace Compound, Imphal on July 5 .

With the Chief Minister's permission, the Association is taking care of 100 ponies at Hapta Kangjeibung while charging Rs 100 per week from the owners for the pony's feed.

Though the grazing grounds of Manipuri pony are at risk, he urged the owners not to let them loose.

He reasoned that in many cases the ponies end up hurt or worse in accidents or being shot with air guns or stabbed with knives by people when the ponies trespass into their croplands.

Stating that those who do not have room to raise or rear their ponies can keep them at Mapal Kangjeibung and Hapta Kangjeibung, Bronson added that the Association is also working hard to herd all the ponies into such safe grounds.

Further, he urged fanners to refrain from harming the ponies if they happen to intrude into their farms.

Instead, he made an appeal to secure the ponies and contact the Association.

He assured that the pony owner will pay the necessary fine for the damage inflicted by the animal on the farmers' crops.

In such cases, he urged the farmers to contact the following phone numbers for prompt response - Ch Ajit (Imphal West): 8974711080; W Bronson (Imphal East): 9856085680; L Tomba (Bishnupur): 9856509549; O Manaobi (Thoubal): 8787862262 and M Debadutta Singh (Kakching): 8787445509 .

The joint secretary went on to share that the grant-in-aid provided by the Veterinary Department to the polo clubs in the State has not been released for 2023-24.Stating that the clubs use this sum to purchase feed, medicines and other necessities for the ponies, he urged the concerned authority to release the aid.

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