Chadong church submits memo to CS
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 27 2015:
The Chadong Baptist Church urged the state government to make immediate temporary arrangement for the church and protect the existing church.
In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Secretary by Chadong Church Pastor Rev L Ningthar it was stated that the Government of Manipur did not inform the villagers about submerging them with the dam water.
Ningthar said the Chadong Baptist Church is affiliated to Southern Tangkhul Naga Baptist Association (STNBA) founded on October 10, 1935 .
The Golden Jubilee of the Church and of STNBA was celebrated in the year 1986, the Platinum Jubilee was celebrated in the year 2010 .
Memorial stones of these and other important events still adorn the lawn of the Church, however, all these timeless markers of history will be forever submerged.
They demanded to construct a new place of worship with appropriate amenities in a place mutually agreeable to the Church and its members and to urgently look after the Church members who are now displaced and living in very inhuman condition.
The statement further said the Mapithel Dam has artificially inundated several villages and their properties including Chadong Village and created a man-made disaster by the government.
Church members have been fleeing the village and are now living in makeshift houses.
The government could have averted this disaster if there were proper planning with a humane face.
All rights have been violated including the right to practice one's own religion.
As the submergence of Chadong village is almost complete, the Chadong Baptist Church has been forced to conduct the last service and last prayers inside the Church as all routes to this sacred place has been cut off.
The government is completely insensitive to the Church functioning and no respect to the religion which also violate the rights as enshrined in the Indian Constitution, the statement added.