Lamka, March 12, 2010: Around 1000 people of three villages of Yurembam in Imphal west district today protested against the land acquisition by the Power Grid Corporation of India, which intends to upgrade a Power Sub-station near Yurembam.

The protestors attempted to storm the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Imphal West were public hearing was held with regard to the take over 25.876 acres of paddy field in the surrounding of the existing power sub-station at Yurembam village affecting paddy fields of farmers of Yurembam, Patsoi and Tabungkhok.

Police who were on alert at the DC office complex foiled the attempt bid resulting to a brief heated exchange of words with the protestors at about 11 am.

Police dispersed them to allow conduct of the public hearing as scheduled.

The hearing went on undisturbed, a police officer on duty at the complex said.

Manipur government agreed to give land require for upgradation of the existing 132 KV sub-station located at Yurembam to 400 KV sub-station to the Power Grid, for putting up a 400 KV DC line from Silchar.

"We have no objection in the installation of power sub-station somewhere in a convenient place other than paddy field.

The taken over of our paddy field is like snatching our stomach," S Hemba convener of Yurembam-Patsoi-Tabungkhok Land Protection Demand Committee spearheading the protest against land acquisition move lamented.

The committee, while airing grievances facing by the existing power sub-station to Yurembam and concern over the rapid sinking of cultivable by construction of government and non-governmental buildings in the area located on the side of the NH-53 (Imphal-Jiribam road) have been objecting to the acquisition of more land, he observed.

"We have submitted memoranda several times apart from protest rallies and other forms of protest to register strong objection to government move to take over our paddy land," but government keeping behind people�s demands efforting to take over, went on to lament.

He also said that they will leave any stone unturned to stop government to take over land.

Mention may be made that Chief Minister O Ibobi himself recently convened a meeting with leaders of the committee convincing on the important of the 400 KV power sub-station for improving power problem in the state.

But it was concluded with no amicable solution.

At the latest, on March 1 night, womenfolk of the three villages stormed the office of the Power Grid at Yurembam and stoned causing damages to the widow panes of staff quarters.

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