A Correspondent
SHILLONG: Williamnagar MLA Marcuise N Marak inaugurated the District Aqua-Fest 2019-2020, organized by the Department of Fisheries at Memo Lake in Bolkinggre village in East Garo Hills, Meghalaya on February 26.
Speaking on the occasion, Marcuise lauded the Superintendent of Fisheries, East Garo Hills, for organizing the festival at such a scenic location and urged the villagers to preserve water bodies which will help in promoting tourism. He also informed the gathering that more than Rs 30 crore had been earmarked by the government for development of tourism infrastructures at Daribokgre under Nokrek Biosphere Reserve.
East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Swapnil Tembe in his speech urged the people of the region to preserve nature in order to promote eco-tourism which in turn will help them in enhancing their earnings.
Delivering the keynote address, Superintendent of Fisheries, Helparine A Sangma, informed that the festival was organized to create awareness among the fish farmers of the district and to promote their products with the funds received from the NFD. She also informed that the fish farmers had been provided with financial assistance under the MSM-I with the motto “From dependency to self sufficiency”
Others who spoke on the occasion included Bulbully S Marak, Assistant Director of Tourism, Albert G Momin, BDO, Samanda and Bolwind Momin of Bolkinggre Fish Sanctuary.
On the day, the Fisheries Department organized the “pay-fish-carry home” angling competition where more than 100 anglers from various localities participated.
Also Watch: Khelo India Lawn Bowl Gold Medalist Suranjana Baruah shares candid moment with THE SENTINEL DIGITAL