Imphal, March 19: The 300 acres of land reserved under Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department at Tingkai Khunou as grazing ground for ponies would be developed soon, disclosed Minister of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, Md Allaudin Khan.

MLA O Joy of MPP proposed for reservation and development of a new site as a grazing ground for ponies on the closing day of the the State assembly on March 17.He further urged to pass a private member resolution to this effect.

Responding to the proposal, Minister Md Allaudin Khan observed that it would be hard to find a new grazing ground in the present time considering the ever shrinking agricultural land.

Instead of seeking new ground, he assured that the 300 acre reserved land at Tingkai Khunou would be developed properly to serve the purpose of a grazing ground and fencing work would be undertaken within a short time.

Joy noted that according to the Department census report, the total number of ponies last year was 2000 but in the intervening period of just three months, it has dwindled to 1700 at present.

Explaining on the dwindling number of ponies, Allaudin Khan stated that a sum of Rs 500 was provided to each pony owners by the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department but the grant has been suspended since some years back.

Moreover, as ponies provide little benefit to the owners, they are all the more discouraged to rear ponies which contributes a significant factor for the dwindling number, remarked Allaudin.

Further, the 39 acre big grazing ground at Porompat has been taken over by the State Government for construction of office buildings and other plants, he observed.

Nevertheless, as the grazing ground at Tingkai Khunou would be developed soon, Allaudin noted that it would help to a certain extent in the preservation of ponies.

Following the assurance of the Minister in the House, the proposal was later withdrawn.

Another private member resolution was also raised by MLA BD Behring for implementation of Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution in the hill districts of Manipur.

On this matter, Chief Minister O Ibobi informed that previous Governments have recommended to the Centre for implementation of Sixth Schedule and noted that it would be a futile exercise to recommend again.

However, Ibobi admitted that concerning the clause "with certain local adjustment and amendment", the State Government ought to take a consensual decision and take a clear stand.

Behring mentioned that Hills Area Committee constituted in 1971 has been urging for implementation of Sixth Schedule since its inception.

Its implementation in hill districts does not mean that the scheduled tribes would grasp all the benefits and share due to people of general category, clarified Behring while appealing to all the people to give up such notion.

Observing that in states like Assam, Meghalaya etc, Sixth Schedule has been implemented, he urged the leader of the House to set a definite dateline to furnish a response to the centre in this connection.

Speaker Dr Manirrudin Sheikh presiding the session observed that the State Government's response would be sent soon to the Centre as was assured by the Chief Minister following which BD Behring withdrew his private member resolution.

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