Our Correspondent
Imphal, Oct. 20 (EMN): Manipur Fishery and Education Minister S Rajen Singh on Wednesday released more than four lakh fish fingerings into Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Northeast as part of observing the 32nd Loktak Day celebration.
Minister Rajen Singh also reinaugurated Experimental Fish Farm at Sendra at Loktak Lake.
Speaking to journalists, Rajen said that the department of Fishery, Manipur has released four lakh ten thousand fish fingerings into Loktak Lake as part of the celebration.
Out of the four lakh fish fingerings released into the lake, two fish farmers Heisnam Meghachandra Mangangcha of Thanga and Ibosana of Laphupat Tera contributed one lakh and ten thousand fingerings, he said.
Sharing the reason behind the release of the fish fingerings into the lake, he said that the Fishery department was releasing fish fingerings with the objective to multiply varieties of fishes in the lake as the number of the aquatic creatures had been decreasing due to excessive fishing in the lake.
Stating that the majority of the people residing around the lake was also dependent on this lake, the minister said fishing was a main occupation and livelihood for many around the lake.
MLAs L Radhakishore Singh of Oinam, P Sharatchandra Singh of Moirang, T Robindro Singh of Thanga, Commissioner (Fishery) M Harekrishna Singh, Director (Fishery) Heisnam Balkrishna Singh and other officials and staff of Fishery department were also present during the occasion.
Later, Thanga MLA T Robindro along with the members of Loktak Festival Organising Committee, released more than one lakh fish fingerings into Loktak Lake at Thanga village.
Even though the Loktak Festival Organising Committee couldn’t organise the festival at a large scale as before due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the usual ritual prayer was conducted at Loktak Lairembi Lampak after collecting water of esha mapal of Loktak lake, according to President of the Loktak Festival Organising Committee and Ex-Minister H Sanayaima Singh.