Thingungei committee seeks public support in developing state’s first bird sanctuary

Correspondent
Imphal, Feb. 18 (EMN): The United Committee Thingungei (UCT) has appealed to the general public to extend cooperation and support in developing state’s first bird sanctuary at Thingungei area in Manipur’s Bishnupur district.
The committee general secretary H Romio said the proposed area, as per the government notification is 103.10 hectares (1.031 sq. km) which comprises of 13.93 hectares of swampy area, 35.37 hectares of floating biomass (phumdi) and 53.80 hectares of open water.
UCT which comprises of 13 clubs, association and Meira Paibi organisations was constituted to assist in safeguarding and maintaining the bird sanctuary after Manipur government declared Thingungei side of Loktak Lake where migratory birds take shelter during winter as a bird sanctuary under the banner ‘Thingungei bird sanctuary,’ the committee said.
According to the statement, the total state land in the eastern side of Thinungei adjoining Loktak Lake is about 84.3 hectares. Of which only 13.93 hectares is under the bird sanctuary and remaining 70.3 hectares is being encroached. There are also reports of encroachment in northern and southern side of the proposed sanctuary.
Encroaching the shoreline area of the core zone of Loktak Lake, Ramsar Site, a wetland of international importance, is a total gross violation of the National Wetland (Conservation & Management) Rules, 2017 and Manipur Loktak Lake (Protection Act, 2016.Manipur is said to be located on the route of Asian migratory flyway of birds, the statement said.
Besides fishing by electrocuting, poisoning and poaching of waterbird are also against the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and Environment Protection Act, 1986, it said.
Informing that the whole area of 103.10 hectares (1.031 sq km) is a small area for a bird sanctuary, it also claimed that majority of villagers of Thinungei supports the establishment of sanctuary.
It may be mentioned that the Joint Action Committee formed against the announcement of bird sanctuary at Thinungei strongly opposed the government’s move and demanded revocation of the government notification. They have been urging the government to translocation the sanctuary.