The Manipur Pony and Polo Player’s Welfare Association (MPPPWA), has reacted sharply to the state government’s decision to register Manipuri ponies for its conservation and development.
The MPPPWA said that the government should have paid importance on developmental activities first rather than the registration process.
“We welcome the initiative, but the authority should have first taken up development activities on a priority basis,” MPPPWA vice president G Dhanachandra Sharma said in Imphal on Saturday.
“We want development of grazing grounds for ponies and playing grounds for players first,” Sharma further said.
Sharma demanded the development of grazing grounds at Lamphelpat in Imphal West district and Yaralpat in Imphal East district.
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“If the government is serious about conservation of ponies then it should first develop the grazing grounds. Otherwise, the registration process will have no meaning,” the MPPPWA VP further added.
Manipur in total has 24 polo clubs and 11 polo tournaments and equestrian competitions are organised among the players every year and each club, on an average, has 15 polo players.
The Manipur Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department on Thursday (August 22) had announced that it would begin the registration of Manipuri ponies for their conservation and development.
Under the Manipuri Pony Conservation and Development Policy, 2016, this indigenous pony has been declared as critically endangered species and is on the verge of extinction.
The total population of the Manipuri Ponies is estimated to be around 1000 or even less.