Rough ride awaits Govt's 5 star dream
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 06 2011:
The State Government's plan to set up a 5-Star hotel at Naga River Colony, North AOC is likely to face stiff opposition from the residents.
The people of the area today staged a sit-in-protest against the Government's decision.
The protesters warned that various forms of agitation would be initiated if the Government fails to drop its plan of constructing a 5-star hotel at Naga River colony.
It may be mentioned that the State Government on December 17 last year decided to construct the hotel at Naga River colony (also known as Kabo Leikai) with an objective to boost tourism in the State.
Former Minister RV Minthing, who was taking part in the protest, noted that construction of a hotel by evicting residents from an area where people of different communities are living together is not a right move at all.
The people of the area are not against the construction of 5-Star hotel albeit it must be at another suitable place, he added.
Residents of Nagaram, Dewlahland, Namdunlong, Ragailong, Zomi Villa, Kekru Villa, Tangkhul Avenue and Canan Veng took part in the sit-in-protest.
Vice-Chairman of Naga River colony, ZV Wungshim asked why the Government is trying to end the age-old tradition of different communities living together in harmony at Naga River colony.
People from Meitei, Tangkhul, Nepali, Muslim, Kuki and other communities are residing peacefully at the area since the past many decades, he added.
Wungshim said that the residents would have left Naga River colony if the area is necessitated for developmental projects like expansion of National highway.
However, the residents will remain unmoved in this case as hotels can be constructed at other places as well, he added.
He added that Government may shift Government buildings like MPSC office and Hotel Imphal etc to other areas if there is any compulsion to construct 5-Star hotels at the area.
At the moment Manipur boasts of a star hotel, that too a three star hotel in Hotel Classic, which is a private hotel.
A few years back the State Government had seriously mulled over the idea of handing over Hotel Imphal to a private player following huge loss.