NSU land claims undermining feat of sportspersons
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: October 04, 2022 -
UNDESIRABLY, infrastructure development works of the National Sports University (NSU) is likely to be stalled taking into account of the objection raised by the joint Tribe Students’ Association (JTSA) against the spot survey of the national project to be conducted by ministers and officials.
The government authorities might go ahead with the inspection visit but JTSA’s assertion that it will not accept the survey for failure to inform the rightful owner of the land, which it claims is Konsakhul village, underscores that there has been no consensus over the land dispute.
For instance, villagers of Koutruk under Imphal West district and Haraothen in Kangpokpi district, too have been claiming that land of the varsity belong to them.
The JTSA has stopped short of threatening to launch agitation over the issue but its appeal to all concerned, which practically means the government of Manipur, to resolve the land issue within two weeks’ time suggests that without proper settlement of the land dispute the project will continue to hog the limelight for all the wrong reasons.
As per the press statement issued by JTSA, several rounds of talks that have been held, MoU and agreement signed between the government of Manipur and Konsakhul villagers agreed that the present land area of the NSU belongs to Konsakhul.
But the statement expressing remorse that some neighbouring villagers are also staking claim on the same site could be construed as existence of a three-way land tussle.
Similar to the JTSA’s claim, it is possible that the other parties too would insist that the land belong to them.
Decades after remaining in the grip of insurgency movement and public agitations, there has been significant improvement in the law and order situation under the new BJP regime.
However, the lingering NSU land dispute testifies that bringing an end to ethnicity-centric narrative will remain a challenge for the government.
Notwithstanding the perennial ethnic differences and occasional tensions over varied issues among the indigenes, Manipur has been a dominant force at the national sports scenario for the last many years with the athletes continuously keeping alive its rich sports culture.
Consequent to producing uncountable number of Olympians and athletes who have carved a niche for themselves in his/her sports discipline, Manipur has deservingly earned the title of powerhouse of sports in India and rightly honoured with the esteemed NSU, which envisions provision of adequate support for future athletes and coaching staff.
For the record, the NSU had been embroiled in one issue or another since the day the Centre announced that it would be set up in Manipur.
Apart from the rage over allegations of forcible land-grabbing and under payment of land compensation when the project was initially proposed at Yaithibi Loukon in Thoubal district to the on-going dispute over land ownership at the new site, in 2018 the Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur went on a rampage and damaged properties of the NSU’s temporary office at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex to protest the proposed establishment of NSU components in Uttar Pradesh.
As such considering the unwanted incidents dogging the NSU, the government should refrain from appeasing any party without consulting with and reaching consensus with all the stakeholders concerned.
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