Manipur on the move to conserve indigenous fish species

Our Correspondent
Imphal, Feb. 19 (EMN): Manipur’s Fisheries Minister N Kayisii said steps have been taken up to conserve indigenous fish species in the state.

Replying to a question raised by opposition MLA K Ranjit Singh at the ongoing Budget Session on Wednesday, he said with non-availability of indigenous fish species namely pengba, Meitei-ngamu, porom, ngamu-bogra and Meitei-ngakra, 10 Murrel Hatcheries (6 in Imphal West district 2 in Bishnupur 1 each in Imphal East and Thoubal) have been opened to conserve and production of indigenous fishes under National Fishery Development Board, Hyderabad.

Also, he said with the implementation of Bio FLOC, a new technology of rearing fish, there will be sufficient production of indigenous fish in the state.

The minister however informed the House that the state is yet to take up necessary move for making “ngari,” traditional dry fish in the state.

Agriculture Minister V Hangkhanlian informed the House cultivation cannot be taken up at an estimated area of 99,153 hectares due to drought.

Due to scarcity of rainfall, drought like situation in the state, the state cabinet decided to declare drought in the state on August 31 last year, he said.

Accordingly, he said report was submitted to Relief and Disaster Management Department and as per the report and Inter ministerial central team visited the state during October 11-17 the previous year for spot verification.

Proposal of the State for Relief Assistance is under consideration in the ministry. For the drought affected areas, an amount of INR 6,02,93,000 was sanctioned for procurement of different Rabi seeds from state fund as per contingency crop plant proposed by the department, he added.

Replying to another question by congress MLA K Ranjit Singh, the minister also informed that 100 water pumps have been procured and distributed to the beneficiaries for use in the drought affected areas in the state.

He further informed that a memorandum of understanding was signed between the pump beneficiaries and District Agriculture Officer (DAO) that the pump allotted to them will be returned to the concerned Officer.