Malom opposes acquisition of temple land
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 01 2013 :
Urging the State Government not to bifurcate the area of Lainingthou Ibudhou Pakhangba at Malom Tuliyaima in the process for expansion of Imphal Tulihal Airport, a sit-in-protest was staged jointly by members of Malom Tuliyaima Lai Pakhangba Seva Committee, Youth Welfare Club (YWC) and Malom Meira Paibi Lup at Malom Bazar here today.
Speaking to media on the sidelines of the protest demonstration, Nongmaithem Indu, secretary of Malom Meira Paibi Lup said that Malom area has already been affected by the airport expansion on three occasions and presently the area is under threat again as of an oil depot is set to come up on the back side of the airport.
She stated that the people of Malom welcome the decision of airport expansion which is in tandem with the government's acknowledgement of the Imphal Tulihal Airport as an International airport but it should not be at the cost of bifurcation of Ibudhou Pakhangba Temple.
Recalling that Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh had assured the people that the area would not be affected in the airport expansion process, she noted that since time immemorial, Ibudhou Pakhangba Temple has been considered as a sacred religious site and that the decision to remove the sacred temple is totally against the wishes of the people of the area.
Kangjam Mani Singh, advisor of Malom Tuliyaima Lai Pakhangba Seva Committee, asserted that though the Chief Minister had given assurance, yet an order was issued by the government directing to remove the temple.
The temple complex measures only 100 metre x 150 metre which should not be a big matter to the government if it is left out from the airport expansion process, he added.
Several placards which read 'We Condemn Acquisition of Temple', 'Leave the Temple alone ' etc were seen being used during the protest demonstration.