'Sadar Hills dist should not touch Meitei areas'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 27 2016:
The All Meitei Clubs Organisation, Manipur (AMCOM) has stated that no areas settled by Meiteis should be incorporated within Sadar Hills as and when it is created.
Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, AMCOM organisation secretary Ningthoujam Sunil maintained that the map proposed by Sadar Hills District Demand Committee is not acceptable.
The Government should come out with a clear cut map of Sadar Hills district if the initiative is purely for administrative convenience and any map of Sadar Hills district should not touch areas settled by Meiteis.
None of the forest areas allotted to Meiteis by the Manipur State Durbar Act 1932 and protected by Meiteis should be encompassed within Sadar Hills district, Sunil said.
The proposed map encompasses more than 30 villages settled by Meiteis and it is not acceptable under any circumstances, he said.
People have deep apprehension that many areas located within Sekmai Assembly Constituency would come under Sadar Hills district.
As such, the State Government ought to handle the issue very tactfully so that the issue is resolved amicably, he continued.
AMCOM president Angom Tomba said that Singda Dam area is included in the proposed Sadar Hills map although the area is well within Imphal West district.
Meiteis have no objection to creation of Sadar Hills district but it should be done only after proper demarcation of its boundary, Tomba said.
He further pointed out that Singda Dam is just 16 Kms away from Imphal West district headquarters while it is 48 Kms away from Kangpokpi.