Eviction move for 5-star plan decried
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 14 2011: The State Government's move to evict residents of Naga River colony near North AOC for construction of a 5-Star hotel has been strongly opposed by the locals, who threatened to launch agitation in case the land acquisition plan is not reviewed.

Speaking to newspersons at Manipur Press Club today, K Golmei, who is chairman of a body called 'Against Land Acquisition of Naga River Colony', said the locals will never allow the Government to drive them out of the place.

Informing that the locality with total of more than 600 people in about 50 households had been settled in the Colony for the last 70 years, Golmei also described the Tourism Department's plan as inhumane and farcical.

Apart from an ongoing protest against the eviction drive for the 5-Star project with the participation of adjacent localities, the effected people are determined to launch various forms of intense agitation in case the Government do not reconsider its decision, he maintained.

While pointing out that Naga River Colony is being settled by people belonging to all the communities/tribes since age, the chairman ridiculed the Government's plan to evict the residents inspite of the fact that there are huge tract of unoccupied land adjacent to Hotel Imphal where the 5-Star hotel is being planned.

Highlighting that the present area of land occupied by the Hotel Imphal along with those occupied by Tourism Department, Manipur Public service Commission, Govt Oil Depot, etc is more than enough for construction of two 5 Star category hotels, he proposed that the 5-Star construction be carried out without driving out the citizens.

Contending that land acquisition proceedings beyond necessity for a particular project is a testimony of the Government's inhumane attitude based on biasness and slighted vision, Golmei said uniqueness of history of Naga River should not be substituted or replaced by constructing 5 Star hotel.

He also pointed out that eviction of the residents would also mean demolition of religious buildings in the said area such as Gorkha Baptist Church, Irong Baptist Church and Tangkhul Baptist, all protected by the provision of Constitution of India.

since India gained independence there is no history that the Government constructed 5 Star hotels or initiated any other development schemes by acquiring tombs, graveyard, religious buildings or uprooting century-old indigenous villages, he maintained.

Demanding immediate revocation of impugned eviction notification, he also suggested that the Government select adapted place for construction of 5-Star hotel, frame rule for rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced villagers, furnish opinions of expert of the Manipur Pollution Control Board and whether the Central Government has approved the plan as Tourism is a subject matter of the Centre.

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