PRESS RELEASE
31 August 2007
The Citizens’ Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD) vehemently condemn the Revenue Department, Government of Manipur, and also the insensitivity of Governor of Manipur, for insisting on acquiring prime agricultural lands of 67-Langthabal Kunja, Imphal West district for Manipur University Complex Expansion, despite strong demand by the local people of Langthabal Kunja to withdraw confiscation of agricultural land, their primary source of livelihood and survival of the local populace. The land in question is also of historical significance dating back to Gambhir Maharaj.
CCDD would like to highlight the insensitive and callous attempt of the Government of Manipur for the announcement in the local daily newspapers, notifying order for massive land allotment to Manipur University under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, an absolutely condemnable and obsolete ‘Land Law’ presently applying in Indian Union, where the actual interpretation of ‘Public Purpose’ is used as a ‘sham’ practice to take over people’s land.
This very Act has been misused by the Government of Manipur in various cases of Land Acquisition, constituting blatant disregard to all democratic call to consider and respect inherent rights of the indigenous people of Manipur to live with dignity in protecting their inherent land from unsustainable practices of land use. It is worth considering the fact that there cannot be more important public purpose than that of growing more paddy crops in for achieving food sovereignty.
CCDD also strongly questions the high objectives and mission of the Temple of Education whose foundation is based on the undemocratic destruction of livelihood and survival.
CCDD further considers that the continued effort notwithstanding the present agrarian crisis in the state is indeed unfortunate on the part on the State Government’s insensitiveness to this major people’s livelihood and survival issue. CCDD further draw the attention of the Revenue Department, Government of Manipur to abstain from further confiscation of prime agricultural lands against the will and aspirations of the local people. Reiterate the fact that gaining public acceptance and comprehensive options assessment is highly appreciable to attain a constructive decision on facilitating development in the state.
CCDD has been keenly proposing that a non-planned project should not be introduced, and that planning process be undertaken after a wide consultation with the people in the state. The government has witnessed umpteen number of times where the people in the state have protested against policies and projects.
It seems that those in the government and the administration have not learnt any lesson from these protests that the people are asking for a more democratic process of development and not based on projects and associated crores sent down from heavenly Delhi. This is true for several projects including Tipaimukh Dam, NIT, Golf Course, Capital Project, Manipur University Expansion, Airport Expansion etc. CCDD urgently calls for a complete re-orientation of developmental process in the state.
(Aram Pamei)
Co-convenor, CCDD
Website: www.ccddne.net
Wangkheirakpam Ram, CCDD(Citizens Concern for Dams and Development) supplied this Press Release to e-pao.net .
He can be contacted at wramd(at)yahoo(dot)com or at ccddne(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)in .
This Press Release was webcasted on August 31st, 2007
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