Biswajit visits Khongnem Thana, assures land compensation
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Senapati, June 29 2021: Works Minister Th Biswajit Singh on Tuesday visited the landslide-hit area at Khongnem Thana village under Senapati district.

During the visit, the minister assured of paying the agreed land compensation to the affected land owners within 15 days' time.

Some standing properties at the site were vacated for alternative arrangement of the National Highway that passes through the village after a major landslide cut off the NH-2 last year.

Speaking to media persons at the site, the minister expressed that any form of agitation during the present pandemic will cause undue sufferings for the people.

He said the government will compensate the affected families at the earliest to facilitate them to shift to a suitable location to facilitate speedy construction of a new route.

The minister also met the village chairman and members of the affected families and heard their grievances and further urged the public to support the government in its endeavour to bring equal development in the state.

He said the government has opened its door wide open for the public and further called for constructive criticism instead of spreading negative criticism.

He further appealed to the residents of Senapati district to make the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination a success by coming out in large numbers.

During the visit, the minister was accompanied by PWD additional chief engineer (National Highways) Y Joykumar and other officials.

The team also visited the temporary settlement area of the affected families at Khongnem Thana community hall.

The works minister met village authorities of Khongnem Thana, Senapati district and the affected land owners and he assured them of doing the needful.

In this regard, the district's apex students' body, SDSA appealed to the minister to translate his assurance into action without further delay so as to avoid any hurdle along the NH-2.Earlier, student leaders of All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM), Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA) and Mao Students' Union (MSU) met and urged the minister to visit the road construction site at the landslide-hit area and sought payment of land compensation to the affected land owners.

Mention may be made that a massive landslide occurred at Khongnem Thana village in October 2020 and completely cut off the Imphal-Dimapur section of the highway.

Many heavy vehicles carrying goods remained stranded for days on the highway - considered the lifeline of Manipur.

On the other hand, former minister Francis Ngajokpa donated some money and PPE kits, face masks, hand sanitizers and hand gloves to DC Senapati for further distribution to the district's frontline workers.

A simple handing over programme was organised at the office of DC Senapati in the presence of ADM, SDOs, CMO and president of Maram Students' Union (MKS).

Francis Ngajokpa lauded the district administration and frontline workers for their dedication towards save human lives during this Covid-19 pandemic.

DC Senapati Mahesh Chaudhari, expressed gratitude to the former minister on behalf of the district administration for his concern towards containment of the pandemic in the district.

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