Villagers threaten to boycott railway works
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 03 2019:
Threatening to impose an indefinite boycott on all railways related construction works if appropriate compensation is not provided to those affected by the Jiribam-Imphal railway project, the villagers of Rangkhung (Langkhong) and Khumji (Lukhambi) Part III, have set a deadline of December 10 for the State Government to do the needful.
Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club today, Rangkhung Village Authority chairman R Dinglin further warned that if the State Government fails to take up any positive action by the set deadline, an indefinite bandh of the NH 37 might even be imposed.
Pointing out that a joint ultimatum was submitted to the Chief Secretary today, R Dinglin narrated that the two villages had submitted a joint memorandum to the Chief Secretary on October 31 demanding appropriate compensation for the people who were affected by the railway project.
Accordingly, the DC of Tamenglong called the representatives of the two villages for a talk and during the meeting, the authority assured to provide compensation at the earliest.
However, till date, there has been not positive development in this regard, he lamented.
The chairman explained that the project affects around 130 acres of Rangkhung village and added that compensation was given only for the affected standing crops but not for the land.
On the other hand, Khunji Part III chief Pougongrei Singuang Kamei also expressed disappointment at the failure of the authorities to pay the necessary compensation to the people.
He informed that for his village, around 56 acres of land were affected and added that land compensation was given but compensation for the standing crops is yet to be provided.