Haolenphai villagers need livelihood; not 'Smart City'
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Nomita Khongbantabam
Imphal, June 22 2015 :
Villagers of Haolenphai in Chandel district on the Indo-Myanmar border do not want a 'Smart City' there saying such plans will have serious adverse impact on their livelihood.
The Manipur Government needs 3000 acres of land in the village for the proposed Smart City and this is going to wipe out paddy fields, village chief Lalkholum Haokip told a team of women journalists.
The media team was on a Moreh tour on June 20 organized by All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU).
Haolenphai village inhabited by Kuki community on the Manipur sector of Indo-Myanmar border is located around 3 kilometers north of Moreh.
There is a dispute as Myanmar has claimed this village area as their territory.
The Haolenphai population depends entirely on agriculture.
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The village chief further said Kuki organizations such as Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) and Kuki Inpi have shown stiff opposition to the Government's plan.
Lalkholum Haokip stated that the villagers will not get any benefit from the Smart City because they only need a sustainable agriculture.
The total number of population of the village is 150 and it has 82 households, he said, adding a Government Primary School building is being constructed at the village.
He said the Naga community is also opposing the Government's plan against which a series of memorandums have been submitted to the Chief Minister, the Governor and the Chief Secretary urging them to cancel the projected Smart City.
"We import concrete stone, sand and brick from Myanmar which are sold in Imphal.
But the Myanmarese population and Haolenphai villagers are using a common gate.
The Myanmar Army post here causes disturbances to us," Lalkholum Haokip added.
One truck load of sand from Myanmar is available at Rs 10,000 which is sold at Rs 40,000-50,000 in Imphal, he informed.
During the visit the women media team also inspected the under construction Integrated Check Post, about 1.2 km from Haolenphai.
Shopping Mall at Moreh
The women journalists' team later visited the grand shopping mall at Moreh which is expected to be inaugurated sometime in August this year.
The mega project is being taken up under the funding of Manipur Industrial Development Corporation Limited (MANIDCO) at the cost of Rs 22 crore.
The five-storey shopping mall now under construction has been named "Multi Storey Market Complex Premnagar" at Moreh close to Namphalong market.
It has 84 rooms with lift service facility.