Boat rally marks eviction anniv
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 23 2016:
A boat rally was taken out today at Loktak Lake in commemoration of the demolition of huts built on the phumdis of Loktak Lake by Manipur police at the behest of Loktak Development Authority (LDA) .
The rally organised by the All Loktak Lake Areas Fishermen's Union, Manipur was flagged off from Langolsabi Patyai and it culminated at Ningthoukhong Kha community hall.
People who gathered at the finishing point shouted a number of slogans against LDA and the State Government.
It was the fifth commemorative function.
It is said that out of 1147 huts built on phumdis in Loktak Lake, 777 were burnt down by police at the behest of LDA between November 15 and 23, 2011.The demolition drive also witnessed tense confrontation between police and local villagers.
Speaking at the gathering, All Loktak Lake Areas Fishermen's Union vice-president Khwairakpam Deben recalled that a large number of huts were reduced to ashes on November 23, 2011 .
Pointing out that Loktak Lake is closely associated with the history of Manipur and its one defining characteristics is its numerous Phumsangs (huts built on phumdis), Deben likened demolition of these phumsangs to destruction of the land's history.
Even Chief Minister O Ibobi, during his speech at the opening ceremony of the ongoing Sangai Festival, admitted that the phumsangs are a unique feature of Loktak Lake.
It was rather disheartening that the Chief Minister was instrumental in the extensive demolition of phumsangs while he himself remarked that they are a unique feature of Loktak Lake, Deben decried.
The union would continue its struggle until justice is done to all the people victimised by the demolition drive.
There is no objection to the many development programmes taken up at Loktak Lake but community participation should be made mandatory while planning and executing development programmes at Loktak.
The Loktak Protection Act 2006 should be abolished and in its place, a Fishermen Welfare and Rights Act should enacted, he demanded.
He said that the union would continue to seek compensation for the losses suffered by fishing families in the course of the demolition drive.