MHRC directs Govt to protect villagers' rights
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 20 2019:
The Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has directed the State Government to ensure that the rights of the villagers of Wakha and their traditional rights over their forest land and grazing grounds are protected concerning selection and allotment of the proposed site of Manipur University of Culture atWakha village.
Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club today, Mayanglambam Bhisma Singh, president of Wakha Youth Club, stated that the villagers of Wakha filed a complaint to the MHRC on June 15 last year regarding the proposal to construct the Manipur University of Culture at the village without taking their consent.
Following the complaint, MHRC, on July 15, directed the State Government to ensure that the rights of the villagers and their traditional rights over the forests and grazing grounds are protected, apart from directing the Government to bring about an amicable settlement for the establishment of the university.
Further the commission also instructed the Government to stop the construction of the university till an amicable solution is reached with consultation with the villagers, he added.
Bhisma narrated that concerns grew among the villagers after the Manipur University of Culture applied to the Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change in June last year for forest clearance so as to divert nearly 100 acres of community forest land of Wakha village without consulting the villagers.
Stating that the said application is a clear violation of the Forest Rights Act 2006 due to the failure of those concerned to consult the traditional bodies and local institutions, he, on behalf of the villagers of Wakha, urged the State Government to implement the direction of the MHRC for considering the rights of the villagers and to bring about an amicable solution to the issue.