IMPHAL, Nov 26 NNN: In a swift swoop, the Directorate of Commerce and Industries, government of Manipur has banned stall number 13 which appeared in serial 33 of the ongoing state tourism festival the Sangai Festival at Hatta Kangjeibung in Imphal from further participating in this year’s fest for selling meat of wild and endangered animals. In response to the newspaper reports that the stall owned by Bojo Oinam of Sagolband sold meat of wild and rare animals, the ban was initiated after inspection.
In a press meet today at the Sangai festival, Directorate of Tourism director Hrisheekesh Modak clarified that construction and allocation of stalls was entrusted to an independent agency or NGO called Manipur Apex Weavers & Handicrafts Cooperative Society Ltd, Paona Bazar. “Stall owners were issued temporary registration certificates by the Food Safety and Standards Wing of Health Department of the state and it is upon the stall owner Bojo Oinam to ensure that food items sold from his stall are in compliance with various laws including the wildlife Protection Act of 1972”, said Modak.
In this connection the Department of Commerce and Industries asked the Department of Forest to investigate the matter with members of People for Animals. As a result, forest department banned the stall.Modak also warned that all stall owners should abide by relevant laws of the land failing which action would be taken.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/no-wild-meat-at-tourism-festival/
