IMPHAL, November 23: The All Loktak Lake Areas Fishermen`™s Union, Manipur with the help of various civil bodies in the State observed the third anniversary of the Loktak Lake Phum Huts Arson Day at Thanga and organised a peace rally demanding the repeal of Manipur Loktak Lake Protection Act, 2006.
The peace rally was flagged off by Indian National Trust for Art and Cutural Heritage (INTACH), Manipur convenor RK Ranjan Singh and social worker H Kullachandra Singh.
The torch bearing participants of the peace rally demanded stern actions against those who set ablaze the huts in the Phumdis of Loktak Lake and decommission of the Ithai Barrage which is affecting the lives of people settled in and around the lake.
The objectives of the rally, according to the organisers, were `to bring about widespread public awareness of the present situation – to expose and highlight the violation of indigenous peoples`™ rights and to highlight the relationship between the indigenous family farming and fishing in the wetland systems of Manipur and the impacts of human development activities and programmes undertaken by different sectors.`
Some of the well known civil bodies which help organise the peace rally were AMUCO, CORE, HERICOUN, HRI, UTKAL, KSA, IPSA etc.
The rally began from the Chinglak play ground at Loktak and covered the areas of Oinam Leikai, Salam Leikai, Hesinam Leikai, Thanga Chingkha, Samukon, Thamangkhong, Thanga Ngarane, Tongbram, Moirangthem and Khunusem before making its way back to the playground where it began.