Sawombung opposes FCI godown plan
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 28 2013:
With the Food Corporation of India (FCI) authorities reportedly in possession of an 8 acre plot of land for setting up a food-grain storage facility (godown) in Sawombung area (imphal East), the locals today voiced strong opposition to the godown plan insisting that intense movement would be launched in case any related construction activities commence.
speaking to newspersons at Manipur Press Club today, Village Authority Shemgat Shagat Marup, Sawombung general secretary Moirangthem Shyamkishore Singh said people of Sawombung cannot part with the village land any more as already sizeable portion of the village land had been donated to the Government for establishing offices and other institutions.
Stating that apart from about 3-4 houses likely to be directly affected in case the godown plan is undertaken, he said the proposed site of the FCI facility is currently being utilised by the locals as the grazing ground.
Following information in November 2012 that the 8-acre plot located on the northern side of Biramangol College has already been procured by the FCI at Rs 20 lakhs some womenfolk called on the local MLA Ksh Biren Singh with the latter confirming that an FCI official is in possession of valid land documents, said the general secretary.
Quoting the MLA as saying that the affected house owners are unlikely to get any compensation for land/property affected by the proposed godown, he informed that the said location is being occupied for the past many decades by about 19 families all possessing Dak Chithas with necessary process also underway to possess their respective pattas.
While those living at the said site have to run from pillar to post to become rightful land owners but without much progress for years it is questionable how the FCI could possess documents in such a short period, wondered Shyamkishore while asserting that any untoward incident arising out of the issue should be the responsibility of the Government of Manipur.
It is said that in the last many years or decades, Sawombung had to part with about 30 paris of land, including prime agricultural sites to facilitate setting up of Government offices and education institutions such as BDO, SDO/SDC offices, Biramangol college, Sawombung high & primary schools, forest nursery, forest range office, VDF post etc .
Moreover, eventual need for expanding the National Highway-150 connecting Imphal and Ukhrul district and rapid erosion of Iril river banks would ultimately mean that people of Sawombung would be facing severe land crunch in the near future, expressed the secretary.
He also regretted that inspite of the Chief Minister and the CAF&PD Minister already apprised about the plight of the locals and their opposition against the FCI godown plan there is no positive response on the issue.