Lei Ingkhol residents plead
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 09 2014:
The Lei Ingkhol Eviction Affected Rehabilitation cum Development Committee has urged the Government to allow the evicted families stay at Lei Ingkhol till the construction of their houses at Lamlongei is completed.
Speaking to reporters, the committee information and publicity secretary Takhellam-bam Gitchandra said that residents of Lei Ingkhol launched an intense agitation in association with different civil society organisations when the Government decided to acquire land for Capitol Project some years back.
However, as the committee and the residents were not resourceful enough to fight the Government's move, the committee requested the Government to rehabilitate them, he added.
Gitchandra further said that following the committee's request, the State Cabinet took a decision to provide land measuring 30x40 ft each to 110 affected families at Lamlongei.
Apart from this rehabilitation package, the Government also agreed to delay eviction till the completion of construction of houses at Lamlongei.
However, another organisation namely, Lei Ingkhol Kanba Lup filed cases at Supreme Court and High Court using forged signatures of the residents, he said and added that Lamphel police had also taken up a case in this regard.
Saying that the committee welcomes LYDO's demand of Rs 10 lakh each for all the affected families from the Government, Gitchandra said that the demand however goes against the understanding arrived between the Government and the committee.
Maintaining that such constructive suggestions must be made when negotiation between the Government and committee was in progress, Gitchandra said that it is now doubtful whether this demand would be considered by the Government.
Alleging that LYDO represents a few families only, Gitchandra said that Lei Ingkhol residents had already pulled down LYDO's office when Supreme Court dismissed their case, filed with forged signatures.
Claiming that majority of the residents of Lei Ingkhol are still with the committee, Gitchandra urged the civil society organisations to take the side of the truthful group regarding the matter.
Saying that they would definitely shift to their rehabilitated land at Lamlongei after the completion of construction of houses, Gitchandra requested the Government to delay eviction till that time.