Lamphel eviction victims: Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD) concerned
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 04 2012:
The Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD) expressed serious concerned with the displacement and continued negligence and irresponsiveness of the Government of Manipur to rehabilitate the villagers of Lamphel Yaipha Leikai, after more than a year of their forcible and illegal eviction on June 6, 2011 .
Stating that the villagers affected by the forcible eviction drive at Lamphel Yaipha Leikai on June 6 have now become refugees on their own land, with nowhere to go and no one to care for them, a CCDC statement signed by Aram Pamei said there is no reason for the Government to issue election identity cards and other documents, such as BPL cards to them if they are encroachers in the first place.
Seeking clarification from the Government on who will be an encroacher in Lamphelpat, the CCDC demanded the Govt to present a white paper on the number of encroachers in Lamphelpat Wetlands and to take appropriate steps to prosecute all those responsible for allowing such encroachers.
It said that it is unfortunate that the Government selectively evicts families even as a comprehensive policy for wetlands management or a separate Lamphelpat management policy has not been drafted.
The continued harassment from state law enforcing agencies to Yaipha Leikai eviction victims, including repeated dismantling of newly built homes, after eviction constitute an insensitivity to the rights of victimized villagers, especially the women, children and elderly people, who are now impoverished and forced to disperse without access to shelter, water, sanitation, and education for children and is a violation of their rights, their right to life and housing rights, it stated.
As the comprehensive drainage scheme for Lamphelpat near Lamphel Yaipha Leikai under JNURRM, under which the eviction was carried, has already been completed without affecting the land and homestead belonging to the eviction victims, CCDD would like to urge upon the Government of Manipur to make an alternate rehabilitation arrangement for the eviction victims in close consultation with them, either in their original home-stead land at Yaipha Leikai or other alternate places acceptable to them.
CCDD urged upon the Govt of Manipur to immediately provide Rehabilitation and Resettlement for all affected villagers of Lamphel Yaipha Leikai and to revoke the eviction order of June 3, 2011 .