Kwatha villagers long for govt's attention
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 17, 2011:
Remaining steeped in underdevelopment for the last many years, the villagers of Kwatha, a village under Chandel district bordering Burma (now Myanmar), has been eagerly longing for the state government's sympathetic attention.
Kwatha village has a population of 460 persons practicing Meetei religion who worship Nongpok Ningthou and Panthoibi.
Followers of the indigenous faith are worried today that the sacred site of their god and goddess, which have been there for ages, will fall into ruins if the government does not come up with specific plans to protect the site.
Speaking to this reporter, Takhellambam Biren Meitei, Advisor of Kwatha Schedule Caste Welfare Youth Club, informed that since the days of the Meetei Kings, the people of Kwatha have been safeguarding the Eastern border of Manipur.
But it is really unfortunate that successive governments in the state have given no attention to this small village.
Blaming the government for underdevelopment in of the village, T Biren Meitei pointed out that till date, the government has not given any attention to construct motorable roads in Kwatha village.
The approach road to the sacred site of Nongpok Ningthou and Panthoibi is overgrown with bushes.
Biren expressed apprehension that since the sacred site has been abandoned by the state government, it may fall into ruins gradually.
The site needs to be properly developed and maintained with the intervention of the State Archives, Art and Culture and Tourism Department.
He also appealed to all the concern CSOs of the state to look into the matter and help the village to safeguard and preserve the sacred site.
T Biren Meitei further informed that there are many ancient manuscripts in Kwatha.
But these manuscripts are on the verge of extinction as the only library in Kwatha, Kwatha Public Library, is in a sorry state.
He also expressed regret over the lost of "Pan-Pan" village, which was once in Manipur and Maharaja Narasing, the then king of Manipur, developed as a Polo ground.
But today the place is considered to be a part of Myanmar.
It is said that Maharaja Narasing used to play polo on this ground and a temple, named "Kiyong", was constructed in the area.
The temple is in ruins today.