IMPHAL, November 29: The Congress government is doing business in the Sangai Festival in the name of State festival. Ironically, it does not have any action plan for protection of Sangai and Keibul Lamjao since 2003, alleged Moirangthem Asnikumar, general secretary of BJP Manipur Pradesh.
Addressing media persons at his office chamber here today, Asnikumar pointed out that the Congress government only showcased commercial items, indigenous games and sports adventures in the Sangai Festival to be included in the map of world tourism but do nothing to popularize and promote Sangai through the festival.
Referring to the wrong logo of Sangai portrayed on hoardings put up along the road medians showing Sangai in different manner, he said that the wrong portrayal of Sangai on the hoardings is a clear indication that there is an utter miscommunication between the Forest Department and Tourism Department.
Maintaining that Sangai is inhabited at Keibul Lamjao covering around 40 sq km of phumdi areas which is the only habitat areas in the world, he said that the State government has not taken up any comprehensive action plan to conserve wetland areas and species of Sangai.
There is an imminent threat to the ecology and bio-diversity of Keibul Lamjao. Above all, there have been disturbing changes in and around Keibul Lamjao threatening the existence of Sangai, Asnikumar said.
He also said that Keibul Lamjao National Park has been affected due to the existence of Ethai Barrage and Loktak Hydel Power Project.
Loktak Hydel Power Project can be replaced by an alternative means for generating power but Sangai and Keibul Lamjao cannot be replaced by any other means once they went extinct, he said.
Stating that Chief Minister O Ibobi, Forest & Environment Minister Th Devendro and other concerned government officials have not visited the Keibul Lamjao in the last 13 years, Asnikumar said that the government made tall claims and expressed concern on Keibul Lamjao only at the time of elections just to gain political mileage.
Though the Central Government sanctioned one post of IFS Officer, Deputy Conservator of Forest Park and Century for posting at Keibul Lamjao in 1997 for the protection of Sangai, the IFS Officer was posted at Sanjenthong and operated Keibul Lamjao on remote control, he claimed.
He demanded redesign of the posts and make the IFS Officer work from Keibul Lamjao National Park directly
Sanction of funds from the Central Government for conservation of Keibul Lamjao National Park will prove worthless as the State government never give priority on protection of Sangai species, he said.
Urging the government to provide revival package for rehabilitation of surrounding villages in and around Keibul Lamjao, Asnikumar viewed that LDA only cannot protect and conserve Keibul Lamjao