TSA threatens highway bandh
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 12 2014: The Thadou Students' Association (TSA) has decided to launch different forms of agitation including highway bandhs if the demands they placed before the State Government on its (State Govt) plan to develop a smart city at Haollenphai are not fulfilled by November 18 .

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, TSA president Lamminlun remarked that Commerce and Industries Minister Govindas Konthoujam's statement of July 22 this year about acquisition of 3000 acres of land was perplexing to the people of Haollenphai.

However, Haollenphai villagers were not given any information about land acquisition or the proposed smart city.

With a view to put to rest all the confusion, a memorandum was submitted to the Chief Minister on October 21 seeking unambiguous response of the State Government on the matter.

But no response has been forthcoming till date, Lamminlun said.

Yet, the position of TSA Ghqs is very clear.

No land would be provided to the Government for development of a smart city at Haollenphai, said the TSA president.

If the State Government has any plan to develop a smart city at Haollenphai, the same plan should be scrapped.

Villagers of Haollenphai and surrounding villages depend on forest produces for their livelihood.

Once the smart city is developed at Haollenphai, the villagers would be rendered homeless and impoverished.

For all these reasons, Haollenphai villagers, the village chief and the TSA cannot accept the Government's plan to develop a smart city there.

It is highly condemnable that the State Government chose to remain silent to the people's anxious question whether any smart city would be developed at Haollenphai or not.

In case the State Government fails to give a clear response by November 18, TSA would impose a 48 hour bandh on all National Highways passing through Manipur.

This would be followed by different forms of agitation if the 48 hour highway bandh does not elicit any response.

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