Phaileng village chief rejects allegations
Source: The Sangai Express

Kanggui, October 27 2013: Reacting against Sekmai and Kanglatongbi-based organisa-tions accusing Phaileng village chief of disregarding 'mutual agreement' on banning quarrying activities at Sekmai riverbed of the Imphal river, Haominthang Misao, chief of Phaileng village today said that there is no 'Mutual Agreement' between the village chief and Sekmai-Kanglatongbi based organisations.

The so-called 'mutual agreement' as stated by Angom Rajesh, spokesperson of Sekmai-Kanglatongbi based organisation is bogus and unknown vested activities carried out by the said orgnisation only to tarnish image of Phaileng and Luwangsanggol village, said the Phaileng chief while adding that June 26 joint meeting only 'took' the name of the attending village chiefs and representatives of the organisation.

"I am totally in the dark regarding the alleged mutual agreement.

So there is no way that I will approve it", asserted Haominthang Misao adding that villagers of Phaileng, Luwangsanggol, Chalbung and Ehvan never ever executed quarrying activities beyond their respective land.

He further averred that since quarrying activities is the main source of livelihood of the villagers it has been practised since time immemorial.

If these activities are ban now, it is the same as cutting the throat of all the villagers including innocent childrens.

He maintained that there is a very big reason behind why these organisations took so much interest in these activities though they based their reason on protection of environment and ecology, adding "we have nothing to do with it as well as these organisations have nothing to do with activities of our villagers since we have no connection and relationship" .

"We quarry in our respective land for our livelihood and we do not disturb anybody as well as damage anybody's land while struggling for our livelihood.

So no one should also disturb us in our activities", lamented he Phaileng chief, who expressed strong discontentment over blocking the main road of Phaileng, Luwangsanggol, Chalbung, Ehvan and its adjoining villages by Kanglatongbi Hatikhuwa people.

Haominthang Misao while tracing back the history of Phaileng and Luwangsanggol pointed out that before the establishment of Kanglatongbi, Phaileng and Luwangsanggol had already been settled in the area in 1920 .

He also asserted that the road passing through Hatikhuwa is the main road used for every purpose by these villages and nobody have the right to block the said road.

While urging organisation concerned to stop blocking the main road of the village at Hatikhuwa at the earliest, Misao cautioned that any unwanted incident arising out of blocking the village main road will be the sole responsibility of the authority and organisations concerned.

He also suggested that no one interfer in the activities of Phaileng and its adjoining villages in their endeavour for livelihood, now and in future.

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