Erabot lashes out at eviction drive
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 01 2013:
While hailing Land Acquisition Bill 2013 as a landmark legislation and pointing out that under the Bill consent of the majority of the local population is mandatory before proceeding ahead with the land acquisition process, Wangkhei assembly constituency MLA Yumkham Erabot contended that lack of transparency by the State Government is the genesis for the recent violent clash between protestors and the police in Mantripukhri area.
Speaking to mediapersons today at Bengali Colony community hall, Mantripukhri, the Congress legislator asserted that the Government misconception that private lands could be possessed by the Government at any cost will not only evoke strongest opposition but ultimately backfire.
Referring to the Mantripukhri incidents on July 22 wherein locals raised objection against land demarcation team led by the Imphal East district Deputy Commissioner in connection with the proposed construction of an RBI branch office, Erabot quoted the Revenue Minister Th Debendra as conceding that he was not informed about the land demarcation programme.
As the location identified for the RBI branch office is densely populated and would mean ousting a number of residents who had been settled there for decades the Government needs to locate another spot as Mantripukhri still has enough unoccupied areas where the RBI branch could be set up, said the former Minister suggesting that Government of Manipur act in a mature manner and in the interest of the people.
Reminding that Indian Constitution's Fundamental Right enshrines every citizen to have the Right to Property and criticising the Government for alleged lack of transparency and relying on brute police force to implement its anti-people agenda, Erabot said pending court case on the eviction of Naga River lane eviction drive is a testimony that the Government do not belief in the 'rule of law' .
Along with explaining that Land Acquisition Bill 2013 was actually passed by the Union Cabinet with an aim to protect private property (land) from being acquisitioned by the Government without the consent of land owner(s), he pointed out the Bill envisages mandatory consent of 80 percent of the people whose land is acquired for
private projects.
Moreover, in case of public-private partnership project, it is informed that the same Bill makes its mandatory to obtain approval of 70 percent of the local people whose land would be acquired by the Government.
Informing that the Bill was approved by the Union Cabinet at a meeting presided over by the Prime Minister Dr manmohan Singh, Erabot said the legislation incorporated suggestion by the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi that consent of 80 percent of the affected population should be basis and guiding principle for land acquisition to set up industries or undertake PPP projects.
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