Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 28 2009:
Decrying the failure of the State Government to provide relief and rehabilitation facilities to them, villagers of Phayang who have been rendered homeless after their lands were acquired in connection with construction of Thoubal Multipurpose Project have warned of taking recourse to intense agitation.
Addressing a press conference in this connection at Manipur Press Club here this afternoon, secretary of Phayang Village Authority M Misao informed that the Government had acquired 46.17 acres of land belonging to 47 households in connection with construction of the Thoubal Multipurpose Project over Thoubal river in Phayang village.
However, apart from paying some compensation for khasland of the village, the villagers whose lands have been taken over by the Government have not received any compensation nor any rehabilitation measures for the displaced and homeless villagers taken up so far, Misao lamented.
Such conduct of the Government which does not respect the memorandum of understanding signed with the villagers at the time of taking over the land and forcing them to lead life like refugees is condemnable, Misao said.
He further informed that as the Government has failed to keep its promise, the displaced villagers had returned back to the village and started reconstruction of their houses in 2006.However, the Government used its security forces and destroyed the houses.
Demanding the Government to take up necessary measures for rehabilitation of the displaced villagers within October, Misao warned that in case of failure, the villagers would be compelled to launch various intense agitations including stopping the construction work of the project and resettlement in their respective land.
The Government should be held responsible for any untoward incidents that may occur during the course of these agitations, the secretary of the Village Authority said, adding that a memorandum would also be submitted to the Chief Minister in this regard.
Chief of Phayang village LK Thang was also present during the press conference.