Dists creation leads to more boundary tussle
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 28 2017:
The
boundary issue of more than
140 villages of different districts
of the State has created a
huge problem, particularly in
the villages that fall in the newly
created six districts.
According to a source, the
main boundary issue is concerned
with villages which lie
in the adjoining areas of the
hill and the valley.
Villages located in the hills
often expand or branch out
due to increasing population.
But sometimes, these villages
branch out or the villagers establish
a new village in the
nearest valley area.
These villages
are often given a new
name and the villagers often
try to include these new villages
in their previous
districts.
There even have been
cases of the Tribal Affairs
and Hills Development issuing
a gazette notification
recognising these newly established
villages.
It may be noted that there
were demands for including
Mantak village, of Kakching
subdivision under Thoubal
district in Chandel district
(before the creation of
Kakching district).
There were even DC reports
of the village being
claimed as a part of Chandel
district during census.
The source pointed out that
the first district reorganisation
of Manipur was done in 1969
when five districts and 25
subdivisions were created.
The information regarding
the details of the villages under
these subdivisions are all
in the gazette notifications, it
added.
The source stated that
many of the villages which
were initially included in valley
districts are now part of
hill districts and added that
there have been cases of legal
tussle over such issues.
It also pointed out the incident
of Senapati district
administration claiming
Langol Tarung, under Imphal
West district Lamphelpat subdivision,
to be a part of Saitu
Gamphazol subdivision.
Explaining that both the
Revenue Department and
Tribal Affairs and Hills Development
are issuing gazette
notification for recognising
villages, the source pointed
out that it is high time for the
State Government to investigate
whether the Tribal
Affairs and Hills Development
seeks the approval of
the Cabinet or that of the Assembly's
Hill Areas
Committee for issuing the notifications.
The boundary issue of the
villages ( within the seven newly created districts would only add to the
problem, the source claimed.
The State Home Department had formed a committee to
resolve the boundary issue but failed to bring a solution.
It pointed out that the previous Congress Government had
discussed plans for establishing a District Boundary Commission
for solving the issue but it was not put into action.
The
District Boundary Commission was supposed to be headed by
a retd High Court Judge with either the Additional Chief
Secretary or Administrative Secretary (Home), Commissioner
or Administrative Secretary (Revenue) and Commissioner or
Administrative Secretary (Tribal Affairs and Hills) as members.
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