'Draft Rules on land acquisition should be published in Manipuri too'
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 05 2014 : The Indigenous Perspectives (IP) and Centre for Organisation, Research & Education (CORE) on Saturday said there is no good reason in publishing the Manipur Draft Rules, 2014 on the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 only in English language by Manipur Government.

During a joint press conference at Jupiter Yambem Centre, Paona International Market here, Ramananda Wangkheirakpam, Director of IP, demanded that the gazette notification on the Draft Rules for Land Acquisition Act issued by the Government on June 17 last should be republished both in English and Manipuri to make it convenient for the general public.

In this regard, a joint memorandum by 13 NGOs was submitted to the Governor on July 3, he informed, saying that copies of the same memorandum were also given to the Chief Minister and Chairman of Hill Area Committee.

The Governor has been petitioned in view of the importance of the proposed Act, he said, adding that the Draft Rules, which should be based on local realities and experiences, has been published only in the English language without consulting the public.

Ramananda informed that the last date for giving comments on the Draft Rules is July 16 after which it would become an Act.

Meanwhile, in the joint memorandum submitted to the Governor, the Chief Minister, Revenue Minister and the Chairman of Hill Area Committee, 13 organisations have taken strong exception to making the copies of the Draft rules available only at the office of the Under-Secretary (Revenue), Secretariat South Block, Government of Manipur at Imphal and publishing of the information concerning the Gazette Notification in only one newspaper of Manipur, and giving no announcement through AIR Imphal and DDK Imphal public knowledge.

The NGOs sought the government to ensure that the Draft Rules, 2014 notified in the Manipur Gazette (Extraordinary) No.72 on Tuesday, June 17, 2014 be made available in all major local languages of Manipur, and also to ensure a wide official announcement by way of advertisements at least for consecutive 7 (Seven) times in all the leading local media, including AIR Imphal and DDK Imphal and the relevant translated texts of the draft be made available in all district and sub-divisional headquarters of Manipur.

'With multiple projects planned in the state of Manipur as part of India's Look East, we must not end up with affected people lining up as beggars on our streets.

Affected people must be active parties to the development activities that are designed to benefit everyone', the memorandum said.

The memorandum was signed by Dr.LD Roy (President, Centre for Organisation Research and Education), Ramananda Wangkheirakpam, Indigenous Perspectives, Laishram Helenchandra Singh, JAC Against the Railway Station Yard at Yurembam, Oinam Rajen, All Loktak Lake Area Fisherman Union Manipur, Honreikhui K., Mapithel Dam Affected Villages Organization Grace Jajo, Rights Activist, Th (o) Ratana, Lamlongei Yaipha Thouda Nupi Lup, Nameirakpam Yaima Meetei, Yurembam Apunba Club, Deben Sharma, People's Dialogue Initiative, Onil Khetrimayum, Reachout, A.Norendro, Lei-Inkhol Youth Development Organization, Dr.Malem Ningthouja, Campaign for Peace & Democracy (Manipur) and Babloo Loitongbam, Human Rights Alert.

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