TODAY -

Developmental challenges : Airport & University expansion

By Jiten Yumnam *

Manipur has been grappling currently with unprecedented and unique responses of the people to Government's efforts to introduce 'developmental projects', contested to its rationality and purposes. After the residents of Kyamgei came out in unison to successfully defend the highly productive agricultural asset 'Kyamgei Loukol', against construction of NIT complex, the residents of Langthabal are in full preparation to defend 'Phumlou Konjil Loukon' from Manipur University expansion.

Similarly, the residents of Malom, Mongsangei, Ningombam, Konjeng Leikai with strong determination, resisted the massive acquisition of agricultural land for Imphal Airport Expansion, questioning its rationality and purpose. The Airport expansion move is slated to acquire 512 acres of farmland and the Manipur University expansion is envisaged to acquire at least 200 Acres of agricultural land.

The unfortunate part of the Government is the failure to sensitively capture the numerous messages of the peoples in defense moves for their land and resources. Visionary messages for sustainable development, for food security, for a dignity existence for our future generations, messages that development decision making bereft of peoples rightful participation will only be a sham exercise, messages all to strengthen the-foundations of the Manipuri nation, continues to be negated.

Rather than pondering to legitimate concerns and alternatives addressed by the peoples, the typical responses of the State to peoples resolve to defend their land and livelihood, is non-recognition of their inherent rights over their land and suppression of their democratic efforts with brute use of force, through threats and intimidations, thus negating the very universally upheld principles of human rights and development that peoples have rights over developments over their land and resources. Development becomes meaningless without the peoples and when their livelihoods are destroyed.

One may wonder how the current moves for Imphal Airport expansion, Manipur University Expansion, NIT, expansion in agricultural land and residential areas are consistent with forging a self reliant political economic culture of Manipur? Are these moves guided by any visionary developmental framework based on creation of such cultures with centrality on protection of peoples livelihood and production bases?

Are these massive land acquisition moves guided by any people acceptable land and natural resources use and management policy? Have any short term and long term implications of sacrifices of such scarce agricultural land being analysed in planning such mega developmental initiatives? Can the loss of agricultural land and wetlands be compensated with anything, by intangible items, money inclusive? Can developmental initiatives commence without first recognising peoples inherent and inalienable rights over their land and resources?

The increasing protest and militarism of peoples affected by the Airport Expansion, University expansion, NIT construction etc testified that these expansion moves have disregarded the peoples rights over their land and undermined their rights to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). These expansion moves will further undermine all efforts for sustainable development by consuming increasingly scarce farmland and residential areas, seriously undermining our food sovereignty, increase dependency to outsiders and worsening Manipur's economic crisis.

The main occupation of the people of Manipur, nearly 80% is agriculture and has no other industries to generate the economy. Already, the valley of Manipur, where the most fertile agricultural activities took place is pressured with rapid expansion of developmental activities. The displaced families by such expansion moves will be subjected to perennial impoverishment, which will further expose them to social exclusion, discrimination, health risks etc, primarily targeting women and children.

When much of the valley areas are already conscripted and much of its agricultural land already taken over in the name of development, how will our coming generations of Manipur secure a dignified survival? The commissioning of Loktak Multipurpose Hydroelectric Power Project in 1984 has led to inundation of nearly 50,000 hectares of arable and along the Loktak Wetlands, causing displacement of several thousands of people living along and in the Loktak Wetlands and languishing till now with no rehabilitation and resettlement, resulting in increasing poverty, fragmentation of social cohesion and economic livelihood and disastrous environmental consequences.

The Airport Expansion move has failed to explore other alternatives including assessing how small international airports functions efficiently, all with only one runways over minimal spaces and land, as in the case of Tribhuvan International Airport of Kathmandu, Nepal, Phnom Penh (Pochentong) International Airport of Cambodia, Bandamaike International Airport of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Interestingly, even big international airports like Heathrow Airport of London manage more than 1000 flights a day from only two runways.

Women from Malom staged a "meiraa" rally against State Govt decision to expand the Imphal Airport in March 2008
Picture Courtesy: Jinen Maibam


The Airport expansion will accelerate the increasing noise pollution in Imphal, posing multifaceted health hazards and risks. Night flights are what several residents living near airports around the world had long been complaining against, the case of residents around Heathrow airport of London, Bangkok's Suvamabhumi airport etc complaining to their respective Supreme Courts and international human rights Organisations.

Villagers around the Imphal Airport are already subjected to traumatic experiences with noise pollution from the airport. The Airport construction will lead further militarisation of Manipur through deployment of paramilitary forces that will further intensify the scale of civil right violations targeting civil populace impunity, consistent denial of justice under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958. The Malom Massacre of November 2, 2000 was carried out by the 8 Assam Rifles located inside Imphal Airport.

It is high time that the Government of Manipur reconsider as to how and why Manipur degenerated alarmingly from a food exporting country to a food dependent State. Prior to forced merger of Manipur to India in 1949, Manipur enjoys a subsistence agricultural economy with minimal industrial base in the form of handloom and handicrafts.

Notwithstanding its nature of subsistence production, Manipur had been a surplus exporter of rice during the British colonial times. Rice surplus extracted increased from 26% in 1891 to 34% in 19412. Perpetuation of Manipur's status in the post British Period as a peripheral economy is quite evident from the pattern of plan outlays of the State.

Marginalisation of agriculture and industry compelled the State to depend heavily on imports from the core economy of mainland India right from the initial stage of planning. Manipur was steadily transformed into a market and its people only consumers. Agriculture, the mainstay of economy with 80% of the population engaged in it suffered immensely as a result of mis-prioritisation in the Centralised plans that followed the forced merger of Manipur.

Now a new trend of policies, purely extractive, exploitative and aggressively pursued, where the planning is again restricted to few elites and at the cost of the common people, whose livelihood and survival depends on the land and the resources they live for generations. The planning and introduction of such exclusionary developmental policies and projects led to massive displacement, forced and arbitrary disconnection of people from their survival sources, massive takeover and conversion of agricultural land, agrarian production areas for non productive initiatives are designed to benefit few, the elites, those in position of power.

In Manipur, efforts for protection of productive agricultural land and to involve people in developmental decision making process are met with brute use of State force and repression, further propagation of State terrorism. Already residents of Malom and Ningombam campaigning against Airport Expansion are already subjected to harassment by the State law enforcing agencies.

It's no wonder that the 3 affected villagers of Khuga Dam were killed and 25 injured, including women and children by indiscriminate firing by the Border Security Force and the Indian Reserve Battalion in December 2005. On 21 April 2007, Manipur police commandoes baton charged and fired rubber and live bullets to villagers, including women, of Kyamgei defending their land from occupation by State for construction of National Institute of Technology, injuring many.

The brute response of the Government to villagers affected by the Airport and University expansion moves clearly demonstrates that the Government seems totally uncared for the loss of agricultural land with negligible effort to rightfully involve the people of Manipur for developmental policies and implementation in Manipur. The people are being pushed to periphery to defend themselves and with multitude of issues social, economic and political issues remaining unresolved, it will be sheer inappropriate and insensitive, to proceed with 'developmental initiatives' in Manipur.

The questions still remain without any lucid answers as to what are the policies of the Government to promote a wise and sustainable use of our land, forest, rivers, wetlands, mountains based on peoples participation and consent. Are these policies based on the recognition of the rights of peoples over their land and their livelihood dependence over their land and resources?

Does Manipur have or when will it have its own vision for development, or will, it wait for the World Bank or the Asian Development Bank or those bureaucrats/politicians in New Delhi to decide what Manipur should be? With no space provided for the people for mutual assessment of alternative, questions will emerge, whose interest are these expansion moves and for whose benefits? Rather than listening to these questions, how long will the State insist on a forcible kind of development model, using its military might? It's clearly evident that the people of Manipur will reject irrational decisions taken without their participation from far away places and then imposed on them undemocratically.

The demands of the agitating peoples of Langthabal, Malom, Ningombam, Langol, Lamphel etc to stop further acquisition of agricultural land in the name of development is timely and appropriate in Manipur, given the extent of loss of agricultural land and the need to secure our food sovereignty. The State Government should listen to the demands of the 'affected peoples that adequate land is available for expansion inside the existing airport implying further land acquisition is unnecessary.

ll airport irrelevant office complexes and establishments, including military should be removed for the airport expansion. The State Government should, assess viable alternatives with the people for the airport expansion, based on efficient and sustainable airports worldwide. Units of Manipur University can also be established in Hill districts of Manipur.

Why should everything concentrate only in Imphal areas? Such inconsideration will only deepen developmental disparity in Manipur and will only incite misunqerstanding among the communities.

The Airport and Manipur University Expansion moves should not be taken up without the free prior and informed consent of people of Manipur. Development, including airport expansion, pursued under threats and intimidations with "barrels of guns" cannot be acceptable to the people.

The Manipuri peoples who enjoyed self reliant and subsistent economy before the merger with India are now reduced to a dependent race, reeling in poverty and confronting increasing military brutality and suppression for democratic assertion of their rights. Here, the recognition and respect of political rights of the people of Manipur, to ensure their free determination of their political, economic, social and cultural rights becomes extremely crucial for defense of their land and resources.

There should be a complete moratorium on mega developmental initiatives in Manipur till peoples rights over their land and resources and their rights for developmental decisions are fully recognised.




* Jiten Yumnam wrote this article for The Sangai Express . This article was webcasted on May 11, 2008.

* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.




LATEST IN E-PAO.NET
  • Solidarity Demonstration @Seoul : Gallery
  • Violence in Manipur 2023 :: News Timeline
  • October Calendar for Year 2023 : Tools
  • Manipur crisis & popular sentiment
  • Solidarity Demonstration on Manipur at Korea
  • Traumatic experiences: Kuki-Meitei clash #2
  • Students reach out to Historical sites
  • ADBU MoUs with Taiwan Universities
  • Knowing the ground reality
  • The writing on the wall
  • 'Laangban Chara Tamba' #3: Gallery
  • Naorem Roshibina: Silver, 19th Asian Games
  • Sit-in at United Nations in Geneva
  • FRA imbroglio in Manipur
  • Who feels brunt of Inept leadership
  • Cancer Awareness at Education (S), Imphal
  • Condemn brutal murder of innocent student
  • Kongthong, Meghalaya: Best Tourism Village
  • Time for Imphal to set the agenda
  • A diversionary war tactic & a bigger question
  • Protest- murder of students #2 : Gallery
  • Silent Prayer demanding Justice : Gallery
  • Candlelight Vigil demanding Justice
  • Demands Justice for Murdered Meitei
  • CMESS to Moirang College Relief Camp
  • A decade for youth to make India #2
  • Nagaland to get first 5-star properties
  • Murder most foul
  • Not the time for CM to waste on trailers
  • Protest- murder of students #1 : Gallery
  • Demand Justice for Hemjit & Linthoingambi
  • Karkinos: Top Honours at Arogya Manthan
  • NEIMUN 2023: Youth Leadership Conference
  • Brucellosis : zoonotic bacterial disease
  • State presidents for Nagaland & Meghalaya
  • Fixing responsible for the murder
  • Need of the hour: Bilateral disarmament
  • Protesters & SF @Kwakta #2: Gallery
  • Marina by Night
  • Seminar at "Oriental Theological College"
  • Indo-Naga Talks (From 2012) :: Timeline
  • Vote for me or my wife
  • Sohra International Half Marathon
  • State failure vis-a-vis ethnic cleansing
  • The blockade on the road to peace
  • World Bamboo Day @Patsoi #1: Gallery
  • The Meitei Nupi :: Poem
  • Traumatic experiences: Kuki-Meitei clash #1
  • Tifo unveiled during NE United game
  • Sign languages as Career
  • Torbung on May 3: Where it all started
  • The danger of Zalengam dream
  • The descent of Radha-Krishna #6: Download
  • Conflict in Manipur: Summary of issues
  • Chronological report on Manipur violence #5
  • Get to know more about Canine Distemper
  • The Power of Poppy - 3 :: Poem
  • Why Is Manipur Burning ?
  • Condemns Biased UN Side Event
  • Inpui Baptist Church celebrated Decadal
  • When the public relations fail #2
  • A decade for youth to make India #1
  • Tell the story to the outside world
  • Misleading the House of Commons
  • 'Laangban Chara Tamba' #2: Gallery
  • Village Volunteers: Protectors of the Nation
  • World Bamboo Day Painting Comp. results
  • Voluntary Blood Donation Camp
  • Improved potato varieties suited to Manipur
  • Autumn hair care: Tips for healthier hair
  • Manipur cannot go on like this
  • Shifting the theatre of war to Geneva
  • 1958: Kuki Chiefs' Memo to Union HM
  • Never too early never too late
  • Celebrities' approaches to Mental Health
  • International Day of Peace
  • Litter box training for cats
  • Trek leaders training programme
  • An indifferent Delhi
  • A good move with bad intention
  • Protesters & AR @Pallel #2: Gallery
  • Before the inflection point in our society !
  • Whither Naga Peace? Spl session of Parl
  • Lumpy Skin Disease
  • In total chaos since May 3 evening
  • Clutching at straws by drowning man
  • Winter Relief @ Mayang Imphal : Gallery
  • World Bamboo Day at Chandigarh
  • Will leaders walk the talk to end TB at UN
  • When the public relations fail #1
  • Chronological report on Manipur violence #4
  • Reimpose AFSPA call
  • Lesson to be learnt from SAFF boys
  • Breaches of International Humanitarian Law
  • Do we have a Government!
  • 'Birthday boy' glows, critics wonder...
  • Two Murals from Two Corners
  • Sir, a birthday treat for us
  • 'Laangban Chara Tamba' #1: Gallery
  • Student Council: Pillars of Governance
  • World Ozone Day observed at Imphal
  • Col N Hemachandra: Brigadier in Army
  • The Power of Poppy - 2 :: Poem
  • Manipur Crisis: You can bring Delhi to Imphal
  • Manipuri Kokyet finds space in Parliament
  • Relief materials at Moirang, Thoubal
  • Armed Forces' role in Manipur under scrutiny
  • India elevated G20 as 'premier forum'
  • 'Solution first, peace later' slogan
  • Hoping against hope
  • Candle light vigil @ Kangla #2: Gallery
  • DMCC met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
  • The existential crisis - The Reality
  • Seriousness of legal proceedings
  • Role of Governor in summoning Assembly #2
  • One-sided reports vis-a-vis Manipur crisis
  • Death of a Sub-inspector
  • Raja Dumbragi Jeevan Charitra : Download
  • Dr Marjit: Academic Award at Malaysia
  • Interreligious Appeal to end violence
  • Gurkha War & diaspora in Manipur #3
  • Manipur Special Youth Assembly Session
  • From new districts to separate State
  • Looking for ally, desperately
  • Protesters & SF @Kwakta #1: Gallery
  • An Open Letter to President Joe Biden
  • Elephants in a Seed
  • Switzerland of India become a love lost State
  • Restoration of mining affected areas
  • Why did Army invite EGI : CJI
  • EGI invited by Army for objective assessment!
  • Note on Kuki-Hmar Trouble [1960]
  • Sober Thoughts
  • Weaving Looms presented at Relief Camp
  • A compassionate relief & cash payment
  • Sisters and brothers :: Poem
  • Coming to the negotiating table
  • The way forward
  • Protesters & AR @Pallel #1: Gallery
  • Romi Meitei : Best director @Kazan film fest
  • Success of Rahmani30 in Manipur NEET-UG
  • Modi, Biren, Shah exposes tragic series
  • Bharat is older than India
  • Mega Health Camp & Skill Development
  • Demand for ST tag by Meiteis
  • Internationalising the Kuki-Meitei conflict
  • The descent of Radha-Krishna #5: Download
  • Creating Hope Through Action
  • Ningthoujam Binoy: National Teachers' Award
  • The Power of Poppy - 1 :: Poem
  • Role of Governor in summoning Assembly #1
  • Gurkha War & diaspora in Manipur #2
  • Darkest Era of Meiteis
  • Robert Memorial Internship Awarded
  • Churachandpur Meiteis at the crossroads
  • Chronological report on Manipur violence #3
  • Meeting of Meitei Club, Burari
  • G20 call to action in agriculture
  • Silent on the remains at CCpur
  • The resolution to unite all CSOs
  • Rebuttal: EGI Fact-finding Mission Report
  • S Tiken (Thang-Ta) Fellowhsip Award
  • Manipuri or Meitei ?
  • Relief Distribution at Wakhong Pukao
  • Human-centric globalisation : Taking G20
  • Cancer Screening at SP Office, Imphal
  • Doing a disservice to Kuki-Chin cause
  • Epidemic threat at relief centres
  • The Chothes of Manipur
  • Communalism; A Dangerous Ism
  • Condemns the incident at Chalwa
  • Unity - need of the hour
  • International Day of Police Cooperation
  • 5,000 Scholarships for 1st year undergrad
  • Classic case of victimising the victims
  • 11 years in service and raring to go
  • Relief Work - August 2023 : Gallery
  • Krishna Leela
  • Gurkha War & diaspora in Manipur #1
  • Cancer Awareness at Imphal East
  • Training on cultivation of mushroom
  • Illegal immigrants & Manipur violence
  • Missing fact in EGI's fact-finding report
  • Is govt inviting a 3rd Nupi Lal ?
  • The Chieftaindom of Kukis
  • The role of teachers in society
  • Condolence Message
  • Framework for the future of work
  • Understanding Manipur crisis in four days!
  • The case of 'Meitei media'
  • List of Kings of Manipur: 33 - 1984 AD
  • Chronological report on Manipur violence #2
  • Winter Relief Services commenced
  • Special Session of Parliament
  • Advantage of simultaneous election in India
  • Fake Finding Committee ?
  • Poisoning the mind of Kuki-Chin people
  • Raja Dumbragi Jeevan Charitra #4 : Book
  • Organic links between C3C & Manipur conflict
  • Entrepreneur set to introduce first Tea Wine
  • Remedies to reduce hair growth on upper lip
  • Rally against Narco-Terrorism #3 : Gallery
  • On ethnic Nationalism & exclusive domains
  • Stay vigilant on Employment Offers
  • Waterways development in NE India
  • Condemn accusations on Pangal
  • Violence doesn't bring lasting solution #2
  • Feeding lies and more lies
  • Blame it on CSOs
  • Climate Change & flawed solution in Manipur
  • 92th Martyrdom Day of Haipou Jadonang
  • Change the minds, Peace is possible anytime
  • Who is running Nagaland Govt ?
  • Chronological report on Manipur violence #1
  • Manipur Distress Relief Work : August
  • Playing heroes on social media
  • Yes, it's time for a public assembly
  • Haipou Jadonang Martyrdom Day
  • Statement of Thadou Students' Assn
  • Land of jewel trapped under conspiracies #4
  • Health Awareness Programme at MU
  • Manipur- 13 medals at Junior National Judo
  • Where have the guns come from ?
  • The curious case of 10 Kuki MLAs
  • Candle light vigil @ Kangla #1: Gallery
  • Restoring peace - The talk of the town
  • National Sports Day 2023
  • Rethinking caste-based reservations in India
  • Why computer studies is gaining popularity
  • Cold bucket of water after a hot shower
  • Committing a crime to avoid a crisis
  • Raja Dumbragi Jeevan Charitra #3 : Book
  • Patriots' Day @ Kangla: Gallery
  • Protesters with Army [Aug 03] #3 : Gallery
  • Indigenous Wrestling @ Purul : Gallery
  • Patriots' Day @ Thangal Temple: Gallery
  • Maram folklore & Meitei connection
  • 'Remove Assam Rifles' [Aug 07] #2 : Gallery
  • Patriots' Day @ Hicham Yaicham : Gallery
  • Model of Spelling-bee Competition
  • Patriots' Day @ New Delhi : Gallery
  • Rally against Narco-Terrorism #1 : Gallery
  • Featured Front Page Photo 2023 #3: Gallery
  • HSLC 2023 :: Top 25 Rank Holders
  • HSLC 2023 :: Subject Topper
  • HSLC 2023 :: Full Result
  • HSLC 2023 :: Compartmental Result
  • HSLC 2023 :: Pass % : Govt Schools
  • HSLC 2023 :: Pass % : Private Schools
  • HSLC 2023 :: Pass % : Aided Schools
  • HSE 2023 Toppers :: Science
  • HSE 2023 Toppers :: Arts
  • HSE 2023 Toppers :: Commerce
  • From May 3, 1993 to the present
  • COVID-19 : Impact in Manipur :: News Timeline
  • Downloadable Manipuri Calendar for 2023