Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Tuesday appealed to protect the Manipuri pony which is on the verge of extinction.
He inspected a 30-acre Pony Breeding Ground at Lamphelpat, Imphal West which was allocated to Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association (MHRPA). He also inspected a pony breeding site at Pangei, Imphal East.
N. Biren stated that Pony had been associated with Manipur since time immemorial and had taken an important role in driving out the Awa (Burma) from the State during the Seven Years Devastation period in the 19th century.
However, due to lack of breeding ground, we could see lots of pony gathered at many roads leading to certain accidents and endangering the survival of the species.
The State Government along with MHRPA had started bringing the ponies to breeding ground, he added.
He was surprised to learn from experts that Manipur Pony is the only horse breed which has adaptability for feeding at swampy land and expressed his proud feeling for the uniqueness of the pony.
He said that the State Government had made a plan to conserve water bodies for which 427 acre of land would be dug.
Stating that those muds coming out from digging would be used to level up the breeding ground at Lamphelpat, he added that the breeding ground would be upgraded to make it a permanent breeding ground for ponies.
He also informed that a Polo Ground each would be developed in five valley districts adding that Sagol Kangjei (polo) Ground at Wangjing Tentha Awang Leikai, Thoubal District would be developed first.
Maintaining that the State Government had been taking up all possible measures to safeguard the Manipur Pony, he urged the pony breeders not to let their ponies gather at roadside and to bring them to the breeding ground at Lamphelpat if the breeders don’t have such facility at their places.
Later, the Chief Minister also took stock of the progress of the construction of Polo Ground at Ebudhou Marjing Eco-Tourism Park.
