BJP accuses Govt of doling out land to Myanmar
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 07, 2013:
By feigning ignorance about the border fencing along Moreh sector of Indo-Myanmar boundary and again by claiming that it was not boundary fencing but security fencing, the Congress Government led by O Ibobi has been deceiving political parties, civil society organisations and the general public, alleged BJP State unit president Th Chaoba.
Speaking to media persons at their Nityaipat Chuthek office today, Chaoba said that Chief Minister O Ibobi in his capacity as chairman of the State Wildlife Board Advisory Committee gave clearance in 2007 for construction of border fence right through the middle of Yangoupokpi-Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary.
Ibobi further gave his consent to construct border fence for a length of 10 Kms at the cost of Rs 30.96 crore after leaving out huge tracts of Manipur's territory on Myanmar side.
Saying that the party has enquired into the news report published in the Guwahati edition of the Times of India on October 31 which reportedly quoted Home Ministry sources, Th Chaoba stated that the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Policy Authority of the State Government was sanctioned Rs 503.68 lakh as forest land compensation after obtaining clearance from the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Environment for construction of border fence in the middle of Yangoupokpi-Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary.
Six per cent of the forest land compensation amount has been already released to the State Government for taking up afforestation programmes.
So far construction of border fence has been completed for three Kms.
In the meantime, Myanmarese army have constructed a wooden fence inside Manipur's territory.
Still then, the Congress Government has been shirking its responsibility putting all the responsibility on the Centre thereby deceiving the people of Manipur openly, Chaoba asserted.
Ibobi did not mince a single word during the all political parties' meeting held in the Chief Minister's chamber on October 10 last regarding the consent given for construction of border fence.
The all party joint delegation led by Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam saw without any doubt that large tracts of Manipur's territory have been left out by the border fence.
Chaoba also asked the State Government to come out with a white paper on the controversial border fencing project.
Until and unless, all the controversies and misunderstandings on the Manipur-Myanmar boundary are settled according to international norms, both concrete as well as wooden fences should be removed.
BJP spokesman Prof S Tiken alleged that Chief Minister O Ibobi has been trying to distort the facts about the border fencing work by resorting to doublespeak.
The party is prepared different kinds of protest movements in order to save the territorial integrity of Manipur, he said.
Dr RK Ranjan who has been anointed as BJP candidate in the Inner Manipur P/C due consent of public should be sought first in case wildlife should be diverted.
In 2007, when the consent to construct border fence through Yangoupokpi Wildlife Sanctuary was given, Dr Ranjan was a member of the Wildlife Board but he was not invited to any important meetings, he claimed.