TSA bandh cripples vehicular movement on National Highways
Source: The Sangai Express

Thoubal, November 19 2014: Vehicular movement along the Imphal-Moreh section of National Highway 102 was severely affected today as the 48 hrs bandh called by the Thadou Students' Association (TSA) against the acquisition of 3000 acres of land for setting up a smart city at Haolenphai near Moreh in Chandel district came into effect.

General secretary of TSA, James informed the media in the evening that the bandh will be relaxed for the team from Myanmar who are scheduled to arrive here tomorrow for the Sangai Festival.

The decision to relax the bandh for the Myanmar team was taken after Industries Minister K Govindas assured them that an invitation to talk over things will be sent soon.

The talk is scheduled to be held on December 4.The bandh however will be in force for others.

A large number of people including women folk enforced the bandh along the Imphal-Moreh section of the National Highway by stacking up woods and boulders at Saivom village and Molnoi area.

Bandh supporters blocking the vehicle of Chandel DC

Bandh supporters detained the Deputy Commissioner of Chandel and his team who went to Moreh for a reception of Sangai Festival delegates from Myanmar for more than an hour at Saivom.

Later, a team of Ministers led by Commerce and Industries Minister, Govindas Konthoujam who also went to Moreh was also detained for a while at Saivom and they were allowed to proceed only after the Minister clarified that he never told that 3000 acres of land in Moreh was acquired for setting up of the Smart City as published in a local daily on July 7 .

However, no report of any untoward incident has been received till the time of filing this report.

TSA is imposing the 48 hrs bandh on National Highways of the State beginning from midnight of November 18 in protest against acquisition of 3000 acres of land at Haolenphai near Moreh for setting up the proposed Smart City.

Meanwhile, briefing media persons, James Haokip, general secretary of TSA general headquarters said that the student body was compelled to impose the 48 hr bandh as there was no positive response from the Government despite several memoranda being submitted to the Chief Minister and Union Ministers regarding the acquisition of 3000 acres of land at Haolenphai for setting up a Smart City.

Regarding the issue, TSA Delhi Branch will also submit the copy of the memorandum to the Prime Minister today, he added.

Explaining the reasons for opposing the Government's plan to acquire land for setting up the Smart City, James said that the TSA does not want nor need a Smart City which will render the people landless and homeless.

It is also against the tribal culture and tradition to sell land at the cost of custom and history.

If it is serious and sincere on tribal issues, the Govt instead of imposing the development that the people don't need, should come up with a plan for setting up Smart Villages with basic modern amenities and better health care facilities besides improved transport and communication system or extend the much needed Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution to the hill areas of the State for the welfare of the tribals, James Haokip said.

While appealing to all like minded civil organizations to support the student's body, James also warned that an intense form of democratic agitation would be launched after the ongoing 48 hr National Highways bandh, if the Government fails to roll back the plan and stop the process of land acquisition for setting up the Smart City.

Similar blockades were also enforced at Motbung, Saparmeina and other places.

As of now, there is no report of any untoward incident.

Notably, Haollenphai was among the 100 sites selected from across the country by the Narendra Modi Government for development of smart cities.

In line with the Central Government's decision, the State Government has been working to acquire 3000 acres of land at Haollenphai.

Briefing media persons at Gamgiphai, TSA president Lamminlun Thadou categorically stated that no land would be given at Haollenphai for the Government's plan.

He maintained that they are not against the project but simply demanding development of the same smart city somewhere else.

The Government should abort its plan of land acquisition immediately and should not do anything which infringes upon tribal people's rights.

Compensation is no solution for such critical issues, Lamminlun said.

He said that they were compelled to impose the bandh as the Government gave no response to their repeated appeals and memoranda.

TSA is also prepared to close State highways as well as IVRs in addition to boycotting the Manipur Sangai Festival 2014, he added.