Khoupum Valley CSOs oppose ongoing survey, warns of agitation
Source: The Sangai Express
Noney, June 16 2022:
The people of Khoupum Valley, Khoupum Sub-division, Noney district have expressed their reservations against the ongoing "Preliminary Record Writing & Field Classification with Survey and Settlement" which was resumed on June 15, 2022 .
In a joint release issued on Wednesday, CSOs of Khoupum Valley including Zeliangrong Students' Union (ZSUKA), Khunbu-Khullak, Rongmei Lu Phwam, Khoupum Luangrian (RLPKL), Khoupum Area Youth Organisation (KAYO), Guanghpung Pei (GP) and Khoupum Area Farmer Association (KAFA) alleged that the innocent hill people including patta holders have been deceived by the State in violation of the land laws.
It also informed that a joint conclave of Khoupum Valley civil society organisations drawn from ZSUKA, RLPKL, KAYO, GP, KAFA and all like minded Village Authority members from different villages of Khoupum area was held to discuss the controversial issue.
"After threadbare discussion, the meeting unanimously decided to strongly oppose the ongoing survey & settlement, seek counsel from legal experts and urge the Chairman of Hill Areas Committee to intervene in the matter", it added.
The meeting further deplored the statement made by Chief Minister N Biren Singh at an event on June 12, 2022 wherein he mentioned that the hill areas belonged to Mother Nature and no community is the owner.
"We the people of Khoupum partake in the assertion of other hill based CSOs that the hill peoples are the sole owners of the land in hill areas and the MLR & LR Act, 1960 should not be imposed upon the hill areas including notified or small valley pockets", it added.
The CSOs further cautioned that they would not remain as mute spectators and launch democratic agitation if the State Government imposes anti-hill people policies.