From Our Correspondent
JOWAI: Members of KSU, FKJGP and HNYF, Southern Riwar Circle organised a surprise sit in demonstration in protest against the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council’s decision to lease the river Umngot to some individuals to catch fishes available in the river for a certain period as practised annually by the Fishery Department of the JHADC.
In a protest, around 30 members of the three NGOs organised a sit-in demonstration inside JHADC Officer near the Chamber of the CEM Office. The protestors carrying posters and banners shouted slogans against the JHADC action.
Speaking to media persons, the HNYF-Southern Circle President, Tarzan Lamba informed that the lease of the river to an individual has brought only destruction to various kinds of fish and aquatic life present in the river. “We have witnessed that a lessee destroyed the fishes by illegal activities including the used of chemicals, nets and even explosives for a huge catch”, Lamba said.
“The fishes present in the river is very important to the local people and they could earn their living through fishing and the decision of the JHADC will surely affected the normal life of those family who depend their earning from the river”, he added
He also informed that earlier, a complaint was lodged to the JHADC CEM in this regard and the complaint was neclected as there is no respond from the office. Meanwhile, the JHADC chief, Lamdibok Sumer informed that they will go ahead with the decision. “All alegation by NGOs are baseless. Rivers are subject matters of the District Council and we have rules and regulation to manage and control all rivers in the District”, he said
He further informed that the leasing of few rivers in Jaintia hills was being conducted through proper tenders annually. “Only rivers near Bangladesh border are being leased every year as fishes present in these rivers are seasonal fishes. These fishes came from Bangladesh rivers seasonally”, Sumer added.
