Committee bans visit to Keibul Lamjao
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 24 2022:
Demand Committee on the Construction of Ethnic Heritage Park, Keibul Lamjao
has declared that until the state government
gives an assurance that the Park will be constructed at Keibul Lamjao, ban on visit of
tourist to Keibul Lamjao National Park will
remain in force.
In a release issued Saturday, Committee's
media cell executive Somorjit Salam asserted
that if the Park will not be built at Keibul
Lamjao then the government should shift
the Sangai population and Forest Department
from Keibul Lamjao within 20 days.
Construction of Sangai Ethnic Park or holding of any festival taking the name of Sangai
will not be allowed if the park is not constructed at Keibul Lamjao, it further cautioned.
Meanwhile, in an another release by the
Committee on Sunday, it's media cell executive Kh Sandeep Singh emphasised that the
long-suffering people of Keibul Lamjao should
not be seen in the wrong light or as protest
loving people, they only want chief minister
N Biren to keep his promise and construct the
Park at Keibul Lamjao.
People of Keibul Lamjao have seen their
economic activities curtailed with many areas
earlier used for income generation being lost,
which has made the locals unable to educate
their children and sustain their families, it
said, while adding that it is due to this reason
that they are demanding construction of the
Park with the hope that it not only help the
local economy but also encourage locals to
promote Sangai to the world.
The Demand Committee made it clear that
if there is no assurance on the matter at the
earliest then the government should bear
the responsibility of any untoward incident.
The Committee asked the chief minister to
think over the matter deeply, how long will
the Sangai survive in Keibul Lamjao if the
Forest Department staffers protect Sangai
from Imphal.
The locals have been protecting
and living with the Sangai for the last 40-45
years thinking them as divine beings, but now
they have no option, as its either they remain
hungry or protect Sangai, it further said.