Tengnoupal hops onto district demand bandwagon
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 04 2011: After Sadar Hills, Jiribam and Phungyar, Tengnoupal subdivision of Chandel district is the latest entrant in the race for conversion into full fledged districts.

Speaking to media persons at Pallel today, executive member of Tengnoupal District Demand Committee (TDDC) Holkhokhai, who is also president of the Chandel District Chiefs' Association, said that the committee submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister O Ibobi in 2006 for conversion of Tengnoupal sub-division to a full fledged district.

According to Holkhokhai, Tengnoupal subdivision is inhabited by around 70,000 people of different communities.

He said that the TDDC would provide full support to all the movements that may be launched by SHDDC in their pursuit for upgrading Sadar Hills to a full fledged district.

The Chief Minister's statement that the Government was considering bifurcation of Churachandpur and Ukhrul into two districts each while sidelining the issue of Tengnoupal was a matter of deep concern to the TDCC, Holkhokhai said.

He also decried the alleged partial treatment of the Government.

Going by the total population of Tengnoupal sub-division, it is more than fit to be a full fledged revenue district.

"Though all of us live within Chandel district, we are not allowed to buy any strip of land or open business at Chandel district headquarters except those residing in the district headquarters thereby causing immense difficulties to a large section of the population", Holkhokhai said.

Demanding that the Government should take up due process for upgrading Tengnoupal sub-division to the status of a district, KSO Chandel district president Thangjalet alleged that the Chief Minister's statement about the Government's plan to bifurcate Ukhrul and Churachandpur into two districts each only indicated that the Government has been treating the people of Tengnoupal sub-division in a step-motherly manner.

He went on to claim that the demands for conversion of Sadar Hills and Jiribam into full fledged districts are genuine.

Saying that KSO supports such genuine demands, Thangjalet conveyed that KSO would condemn any intention of the Government to subdue people's voices using military power.

The press meet was also participated by Aimol Tribe Union president Akhup Serto.

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