CM urged to clarify BP statement ; ICHAM sets one month deadline
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 01 2016 :
Information Centre for Hill Areas, Manipur
(ICHAM) has warned of launching intense agitation if the State
Govt fails to clarify the alleged stand of the Chief Minister, who
reportedly feigned ignorance about the erection of border pillar
along the Manipur-Myanmar border in the recently concluded
Manipur Legislative Assembly, within one month.
Addressing media persons today at the residence of
ICHAM adviser BB Sharma located at Uripok, general sec-
retary of ICHAM, Ngachonmi Ramshang said the India and
Myanmar were blamed for the contestation due to border
fencing inside Manipur's territory which resulted in stalling
the work.
However, as evident from the missives of the
Ministry of External Affairs, it turns out that the State Govt
has been deceiving the people of Manipur without executing
its responsibilities.
Directors' level meeting between the Survey Dept of Indian
and Myanmar was held on Nov 4 last year at Tamu, Myanmar.
As agreed during the meeting, the detailed work for joint
inspection of border pillars and joint survey/construction of
subsidiary border pillars along the border was scheduled to be
held on Dec 8 last year, Ngachonmi said.
The matter was intimated to the
State Govt through the Chief
Secretary with a request to
depute pillar construction team
along with the Survey of India
detachments for carrying out
the work and assistance.
The
State Govt was also asked to
provide necessary security and
logistic support to the survey
team, he said.
In pursuance of the agree-
ment with the Myanmar
counterpart, surveyors for
Manipur sector — Biraj
Kalita, Supriyo Das and
Baptu Paul were deputed.
The
officials came till BP 79-82
on Dec 8 last year.
The
Deputy Commissioner and
Additional DC of Chandel
district were in the know of
the officials' visit to the bor-
der as evident from official
letters which are also in the
possession of ICHAM,
Ngachonmi said.
As per documents avail-
able with ICHAM, Myanmar
authority has respected the tra-
ditional boundary with
Manipur.
However, as erec-
tion of subsidiary border
pillars for putting up fencing
is necessitated, it has granted
permission for erection of
subsidiary border pillars to
the Indian authority,
Ngachonmi said.
At the same time, the Cen-
tre has entrusted the State
Govt for border pillar erec-
tion works.
Besides, the State
Govt has been authorised to
take up measures so that no
piece of the State's territory
is lost in the process.
How-
ever, the alleged lethargic
attitude of the State Govt is
becoming the potential reason
for losing large chunk of State
territory, Ngachonmi added.
Although people living
along the Indo-Myanmar bor-
der have been protecting the
boundary, there is likelihood
of losing large portion of the
State territory to Myanmar
due to indifferent attitude of
the State Govt, Ngachonmi
said.
He further appealed to
denizens of Chandel,
Churachandpur and Ukhrul
districts to extend maximum
cooperation to ICHAM in its
efforts to protect the State
territory.
ICHAM president N
Rajendro (Boy) said that it
was very unfortunate that the
CM admitted his ignorance
about the border pillar erec-
tion issue in the recently
concluded State Assembly
session.
Strongly condemn-
ing the alleged deceptive
conduct of the CM, Boy said
it is very surprising that the
CM feigned ignorance about
the matter, even though the
matter has been highlighted to
the Chief Secretary.
This is
one reason why people have
lost trust in the Government.
He demanded that fitting
action should be initiated
against officials of the State
Govt including the Chief Sec-
retary if they had deliberately
kept the CM in the dark about
the matter.
And if the CM pretended
ignorance about the matter, he
should clarify before the peo-
ple of the State at the earliest,
Boy demanded.
Boy also asked if there is
any hidden agenda to cede
parts of the State's territory
to Myanmar.
Demanding the
State Govt to set the record
straight within one month,
ICHAM along with like
minded organisations and vil-
lagers along the border will
launch severe agitation, he
warned.
ICHAM publicity
secretary Ambition Thangal
and adviser BB Sharma also
attended the press meet.
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