IT News
Imphal, Oct 14:
Proscribed group Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) has stated that organization will ban import of some specific fishes from outside the state from October 15, 2024. A statement of the armed rebel group said that those in the fish trade should start preparation of buying the said fishes from local fish farmers after 2 years. Those fishes that will be ban importing from outside the state are Catla, Mrigal, Grass Carp, Scale Carp/common carp, Rahu, silver carp and Telipia. However, there will be no ban in importing fishes that are not found in the region such as sea fishes and others that are found in big rivers, the statement said.
The RPF statement said that the ban is decided to impose for protection of the people from buying chemical feed fishes that are procured from outside the state and also to restore the fish farming and production which were abundant in the region.
According to the statement, this ban is the first step toward self-sufficiency in fish production by 2024, as well as saving a significant amount of money spent on fish purchased outside the state. Manipur’s annual fish consumption requirement is approximately 52,000 metric tonnes, but the State’s fish farmers produce only approximately 32,000 metric tonnes. The remaining fish for human consumption is imported from other states, with an annual expenditure of Rs. 300 crore.
The construction of the Ithai Barrage as part of the Loktak power project submerged 80,000 hectares of cultivable land, rendering farmers ineffective. The Ithai barrage is the primary cause of fish extinction and the loss of our natural fishery. Ithai Barrage had blocked the migratory route of fishes migrating from Burma’s Chindwin-Irrawaddy system to the course of the Manipur river for breeding in Manipur’s adjoining lakes and streams.
The Proscribed group lastly appeal to all to everyone to support our fishermen and assist them turn Manipur into a fish-producing state that can support itself.
