COPTAM reiterates stand, warns
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 21, 2013:
The Committee on Protection of Tribal Areas, Manipur (COPTAM) has warned of launching stir if the authority concerned fails to transfer land records of hill areas to their respective district headquarters within January next year.
Speaking to reporters today at the Manipur Press Club, secretary of COPTAM, Thangkam Lupheng said that land records in respect of Churachandpur and Sadar Hills of Senapati districts have already been transferred to their respective DC/ADC.
He strongly demanded that the land records of other hill areas in the valley districts be transferred to their respective district headquarters immediately.
He said that COPTAM should never accept altering the hill districts boundaries.
Pointing out that many villages of the hill districts are included under the jurisdiction of Police Stations of valley districts due to 'security reason,' Thangkam Lupheng also demanded the authority concerned to cover those villages under PS of hill areas.
Reiterating that Panchayati Raj and Municipal administration systems in some pockets of the Hill areas be abolished, Thangkam asserted that no planning and development programme in the hill areas be implemented without the consent of the Hill Areas Committee.
Saying that the ADCs are incapacitated, the COPTAM secretary urged the concerned authority to devolve actual power to the ADCs and HAC so as to enable them to bring development in the hills.
He warned that intense agitation would be launched by COPTAM in collaboration with various tribal bodies and public if the demands are not met by January next year.