IMPHAL, March 3: The State government has drafted a Comprehensive Manipur State Pony Policy under which the pony of Manipur will soon be declared as ‘threatened breed’, said Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Minister, Govindas Konthoujam replying to cut motion moved by Andro MLA, Th Shyamkumar, during the ongoing full budget session today.
Subsequent upon the alarming decrease in the population of ponies, the department under strong initiative of the Chief Minister, has taken several measures to conserve pony, he said.
As a part of the conservation programme he pointed out that the government had acquired over 70 acres of land at Marjing hills in Heingang at the same time the department is waiting for the fund approval of pony conservation project worth Rs 78 crore from the Ministry concerned, he said.
Moreover, according to the minister, the government is also paying local polo clubs, a sum of Rs 20,000 monthly besides it had also sanctioned Rs 32 lakhs to the Manipur Polo Association for their conservation projects, he continued.
Against this backdrop, he pointed out that there are only 1100 ponies in the State as per the live stock census of 2012.
He divulged that dwindling of natural habitats of the pony due to urbanisation, lack of economic importance are the factors for the declining rate of pony in the State.
Nevertheless, he maintained that the department is doing its best to conserve the endangered animal adding that the government has drafted a Comprehensive Manipur State Pony Policy.
Under the new policy Manipur pony will be declared as ‘threatened breed’ like that of Nongin, he asserted.
Further responding to queries regarding development of poultry products, dairy products etc, Govindas Konthoujam divulged a hatchery unit for poultry would be inaugurate in the state by April.
He continued that the Northeatern Council (NEC) has approved for a Rs 13.08 crore breeding centre to minimise the gap the gap between demand and supply and also to avail poultry products at low price.
To control the influx of live stock from the porous Indo-Myanmar border, he said that the department had apprised the Government of India to set up small ‘quarantine’ at the porous border in addition to the ‘quarantine’ which also a component of Integrated Check Post.