Saving the Fish from Mekong to Meghalaya

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 25, 2021

The Fish Conservation Zone (FCZ) was inaugurated on Monday at Rymben River, Lapalang Village, East Khasi Hills District.

The project named as “Saving the fish from Mekong to Meghalaya” was funded by Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund in collaboration with Atree, FERAL, St. Anthony’s College, Shillong and Fishbio. This project aims to enable local communities to manage their local resources.

The programme was chaired by Dr. Bashida Massar, Associate Professor, Dept of Zoology, St. Anthony’s College, Shillong, who is also the Co-Principal Investigator of the Project in the presence of village elders of Lapalang, Ri Massar, Nongtyngur, Lum Wahñiai and Sordars of Raid Mawshun and Raid Lyngkhat and different local organizations.

Primin Khongjee, Headman, Lapalang Village, in his welcome address extolled the initiation of the project in the village. Dr. Jagdish Krishnaswamy, Principal Investigator of the Project, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment ( ATREE), Bangalore, accompanied by four Research Coordinators, Susan Varghese, Girish Varma and Manish Kumar were also present in the inaugural programme.

In his address, Dr. Jagdish Krishnaswamy remarked that FCZ of Lapalang, Rymben River system will enrich the communities along the river and save fish species in the region and an intention to conserve water species in the river is an attempt to replicate what has been successfully carried in Mekong River system.

Banteilang Majaw, Fishery Supervisor, Dept. of Fisheries, Govt. of Meghalaya lauded the initiative of the project and assured the assistance of the department in the venture. He also spoke about the involvement of the department in the effort made to conserve and promote areas and communities having huge potential for fish farming, to boost the quality of life and financial stability of people in the state.

Pynkhrawborlang Massar, Secretary, Lapalang Villge highlighted the rules and regulations of FCZ and urged that they should be adhered to for the success of the project and benefit of the village communities as a whole.

The programme concluded with a short walk to Rymben River where the formal unveiling of the FCZ Plaque and declaration of the opening of the Fish Conservation Zone was made by Dr. Jagdish Krishnaswamy and Mr. Banteilang Majaw.

Overness Marsynting, former Rangbah Shnong, Lapalang, in his vote of thanks expressed his certainty that the project would be fruitful along with the assistance of the sponsors and the Fishery Department of the Govt of Meghalaya.