KSO-SH objects establishment of varsity at Haraothel
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, August 06 2014:
Kuki Students' Organization Sadar Hills today strongly reacted on a plan and proposal of setting up Sports University at Haraothel village.
KSO Sadar Hills President, Thangminlen Kipgen lamented that some Ministers and Government officials concerned had been inspecting 250 acres of Haraothel village land under wraps for establishment of Sports University.
"We are strongly reacting against behind closed doors inspection of Haraothel village by some Ministers and officials concerned of the State Government with the intention of setting up Sports University for Imphal West at Haraothel village", asserted Thangminlen Kipgen and added that the site where the Government officials inspected for Sports University is the land of Haraothel village and it is genuinely under the jurisdiction of Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council.
He continued that the inspection came to the knowledge of KSO, Sadar Hills after the Haraothel villagers took the matter to the student body, the inspection was reportedly conducted on evening of August 2 .
The inspection report has been published the next morning only in Manipuri daily Poknapham which most of the tribal could not read, pointed out Kipgen.
The State Government is trying to generate similar issue at Haraothel in the name of development projects, alleged Thangminlen.
Comparing the project works of Manipur with that of Myanmar's, Thangminlen added that Myanmar Government took only 300 acres of land to set up Smart City but the Manipur Government is trying to acquired 3000 acres of Haolenphai land to construct a Sports University.
The 3000 cares of land is equivalent in size of Imphal West Imphal and East districts.
Alleging the State Government of having a hidden agenda, the student body chief questioned why the inspection was not done with the knowledge of the Haraothel villagers.
He further questioned why the matter had been reported only in Poknapham which was published in Bengali script rather than in English dailies.
Thangminlen Kipgen asserted that while exclusively examining the approach and intention of the State Government's activities, the student body affirmed to preserve the land of Haraothel and called the Government to locate the Sports University for Imphal West at its respective land and administration.
He also solicited the State Government and the Department concerned to avoid another round of inspection at Haraothel land for Sports University and warned any incident arising out of it will be the sole responsibility of the State Government.
Alleging the State Government of being communal, KSO Sadar Hills also appealed to every like-minded individuals to cooperate and render support to the student's body in preserving the land at Haraothel village in Sadar Hills.