Manipur likely to lose land to Myanmar
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 25 2016: Manipur is on the verge of losing large chunk of its land to neighbouring Myanmar if the so called security fencing or border fencing resumes without locating the exact old border pillars erected by the both countries years ago.

In a joint survey conducted by the Information Centre for Hill Areas, Manipur (ICHAM) from Feb 22 to 24 with villagers along the international border areas of Tengnoupal block of Chandel district, it was found that many of the newly erected border pillars were set up deep inside the Indian territory.

Among the villages in border areas of Tengnoupal block, Nongam Satang village (73 kms away from the State capital along ImphalMoreh road) is one of the villages where the old border pillar number 17 was installed by the Indian and Myanmar authorities after a survey conducted from 1967 to 1973.

visit at border pillar

Villagers claim that all relevant documents of the said survey can be had from village elders and marks of the survey can be seen in the remains of the wood carving.

After the new survey was conducted in 2013 by both Myanmar and Indian authorities, the border pillar was renamed as border pillar number 82 and was erected south of the original border pillar 17� at a distance of some 2.45 kms from the actual location inside the Indian side, and the authorities have failed to recognize the older border pillar.

A villager, D Solomon, said that border pillar number 83 is erected some 3 kms south of erstwhile border pillar number 17 and if the border fencing or security fencing continues at that pace, Nongam Satang village will be lost to Myanmar.

Drawing the attention of the Indian Government and State Government, he stated that villagers are on the verge of losing a large chunk of their ancestral land to Myanmar and asked the authorities to conduct a re-survey.

The fate of Kwatha Khunou hangs on the balance as they are also on the verge of losing their land if the border fencing resumes.

Laishram Irabanta, village chief of Kwatha Khunou expressed that border pillar number 81 came closer on the Indian side by more than 500 meters from its original location.

Areas of the old border pillar were once a farm land of the nearby villages.

The areas are now occupied by neighbouring villagers of Myanmar.

"The claims made by the Government of India that work of border fencing has stopped is false as authorities of both India and Myanmar recently visited the areas to resume the fencing," Irabanta added.

Myanmarese authorities have even asked the villagers to talk with the Indian authorities for the location of the new border pillars, he added.

Irabanta expressed apprehension that all villages along the Myanmar border will be severely affected by the border fencing and if it resumes the entire village will be lost.

The destiny of Choktong village, which lies between border pillar number 82 and 83, remains the same as other villages of the area.

A villager, Th Angrung questioned survivability of the villagers as their ancestral land are on the verge of being lost to Myanmar and till today the State Government has failed to take up any positive steps to conduct a fair survey for the proposed border fencing.

The new border pillar number 87 is located some 2 kms within the Indian territory of Saibol Chanringphai village.

95 BN Border Security Force (BSF) was once stationed in the area till 1988, stated Mongmi area Chingshanglakpa Pijah Maku while showing the survey team the remains of the old border pillar.

He added that the new border pillar must be erected at its original area and the border fencing must be conducted.

"Even when there is living proof that the new border pillars erected are false and we are losing our land, the State Government is still maintaining its silence.

Such unbecoming acts from our leaders are disheartening," he said.

The team of ICHAM and villagers also visited the place where the new border pillar number 88 was installed by the Indian and Myanmarese authorities.

The villagers expressed their unhappiness over the failure of the State Government to take up steps to save the land.

After the survey, President of ICHAM N Rajendro (Boy) stated that the demand placed by ICHAM and the people still remains the same.

The Indian authorities must conduct a fresh survey for the border fencing where villagers and local bodies, representatives of ICHAM and State authorities are included.

If the fencing exercise is to resume, it should be done at the old border pillars, he demanded.

Further, he asked whether the villagers settled in these areas do not belong to India.

He urged the authorities concerned to pay heed to the demands of the people or ICHAM will launch intense agitation.

General Secretary of ICHAM Ngachonmi Ramshang stated that Manipur covers an area of 22,327 square kilometres.

But now the State's territory has shrunk by more than 1000 square kilometres.

In such a scenario the Indian Government and the State Government must take concrete steps to save the land.