Govt plan to acquire more land for MPTC denounced
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 31 2014: In condemnation of the government's plan to acquire vast areas of agricultural land in Waiton village including a playground, lake and cemetery in the name of expansion of Manipur Police Training Centre (MPTC), Pangei in Imphal East, a protest rally was staged jointly by Youth Development Association Club, Waiton; Ideal Club; Prince Club; Waiton Nishaband Association and Waiton Meira Paibi Lup today.

Prior to the rally, a sit-in-protest was also organized at YDA Club ground during which the protesters strongly protested the move of the government.

Chanting slogans like 'We will not allow MPTC to acquire lands in Waiton', 'Do not snatch livelihood of Waiton people', 'Save playground, cemetery and lake in Waiton' etc, the rally started from the YDA Club ground and marched up to the main gate of MPTC.

Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the protest, Wahengbam Itocha, convener of Waiton Pukhri, Sannabung, Mongpham, Loudam Kanba Lup said that land areas which the MPTC is planning to acquire measures around 5/6 hectares and lamented that the news of the plan to acquire the land areas was known only after a written statement signed by P Doungel, Director of MPTC was sent to the Pradhan of Waiton Gram Panchayat and the secretary of YDA Club on June 21 informing the villagers that the land areas where the playground, lake, agricultural fields and cemetery situated belongs to MPTC and that the barbed wire fenced around the areas be removed at the earliest.

He pointed out that certain areas of land have been already acquired by MPTC for its expansion in the past without the consent of the villagers.

''This time, the villagers will not allow the MPTC to acquire even an inch of land for whatever reasons,'' he made it clear.

He then urged the authorities concerned and local MLA, Th Lokeshwar who is also the Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly to intervene into the matter and revoke the plan to acquire the land at the earliest failing which villagers of Waiton will resort to intense stir to shift MPTC from Pangei.

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