STAFF CORRESPONDENT
SHILLONG: Although it comes at a price, anglers of Shillong and Ri Bhoi district have made the fish ponds inside the villages of Khetri and Sonapur areas in Morigoan district of Assam as their hunting ground. Come any holiday, vehicles with Meghalya registration number reach these areas by dawn what with the occupants looking for the right ponds to fish for the entire day.
Arunachal Pradesh has always been one of the angling ground of the elite lot but for the mediocre, it is Morigoan in Assam.
While the anglers from Shillong, Nongpoh and others follows thier angling passion, the beneficiaries are not only the pond owners but the agents (dalaals) who ferry the obsessive anglers to the numerous ponds.
Soqibul Hussain, a fish-pond owner confided to this correspondent that they earned around Rs 300 to 500 each day from each angler that often came down during the holidays, even as he added that he is expecting better footfalls during the winter months. Hep Cajee and Lurstep Kharwanlang also said, "As passionate anglers, we know the fishes in the hinterland goes for hibernation. But to live with the sport (angling) that we love, the adjacent district in Assam is our preferred destination."
The anglers narrated stories of their forays with the middleman or agents on reaching the most sought-after loactions. "Mostly riding motor cycles or bicycles, they intercept our vehicles and induce us with promises to guide us to the best fishing ponds," an angler from Mawlai stated. He added, "We do gave them tips. However, they get their own pre-determined commissions from the pond owners as well."
The Meghalaya-based anglers further said that there are scores of such agents. More interestingly, there are pond owners who even provide drinking water and tea when the anglers are immersed in their fishing luxury. A pond owner stated, "Hamare Shillong Mama sare aane se thoda Kamaai hota..." (meaning when the Shillong people arrive, we do earn a bit). Interestingly, these anglers who goes to the numerous fishing ponds do not encounter any hassles from the Police. One of the anglers said, "We dish out Rs 50 or 100 for easy transit."