IMPHAL November 26: The Department of Commerce and Industries has shut down a food stall from the ongoing Manipur Sangai Festival after reports of the stall serving wild boar meat and porcupine meat emerged, said Tourism Director Hrisheekesh Modak.
Regarding the news item published on Nov 26 in some local dailies, regarding the sale of meat of endangered animals as a food items in a food stall inside the Sangai fest, the Director clarified that the allotment of stalls was entrusted to an independent agency called Manipur Apex Handloom Weaver and Handicraft Cooperative Society.
Further it maintained that as per the documents collected from the agency, the application invited does not have specific details of the menu of food items to be sold in the food stalls of the festival.
The organiser of Manipur Sangai Festival has already asked the Dept. of Forest to investigate the matter with the members of People For Animal, Thoubal.
Further Directorate of Tourism notified an order on November 25 that Health Department may inspect regularly to ensure implementation of food safety and Standard and excise department to ensure implementation of provision of Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act 1991.
Further the notification also added that forest department may inspect and follow up with periodical surprise inspection to ensure that no wild or illegal forest product is sold at the any of the stall.