Imphal East hospital site stand off : MLA rubbishes Health Minister's version
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 20 2018: MLA Th Lokeshwor has denounced the claims of Health and Family Welfare Minister that land dispute is preventing the establishment of Imphal East District Hospital at Sagolmang, under Khundrakpam A/C, and has demanded the Minister to accompany him, along with the Health Director, DC concerned, SDO, SDC and Government officials for a field inspection if the situation is as the Minister claimed.

Speaking to media persons at his official quarters at Babupara today, the MLA said that he as well as all those concerned will apologise if there is indeed a land dispute regarding the hospital construction site.

Suggesting the Minister to go on a field inspection trip together to settle the issue, Lokeshwor demanded the Minister to apologise to the people and to build the hospital at the earliest if he (Minister) is proven wrong.

MLA Lokeshwor explained that in 2013, his mother had vowed to donate the land, which was in the name of his late father Nabakumar, during a field trip with the Health Director, the then DC and SDO.

He claimed that he and his mother gave approval for fencing the area for the construction of the hospital and during the time it was agreed that even if the Government could not pay the full price of the land, the land would be fenced and donated in honour of his late father and the foundation stone of the hospital would have the name of his mother.

MLA Lokeshwor demanded the Minister to reveal the individuals involved in the land dispute if his version of the story is genuine and added that if the Minister is indeed telling the truth, he would not oppose any decision taken by the Government.

He further said that back then if the Health Minister had expressed that the 5.42 acres of land would not suffice, more land could have been given.

Asking why the Health Minister failed to say anything about land dispute while laying the foundation of the District Hospital at Sagolmang, the MLA claimed that the land was provided after both parties came to a mutual agreement and no one has ever encroached nor set foot on the land which has been fenced all these years.

Regarding the claims of the Health Minister that there was no land in the name of the Director of Health Services, Lokeshwor asked if there were any complaints regarding land dispute and why the names were not changed despite the orders issued by the Under Secretary Health and Family Welfare on April 16 and July 26 of 2016.The land rate was fixed by the Directorate, of Health Services on October 28, 2014 and the DC concerned had even suggested allocating necessary fluids to the budget as the land rate was agreed on Rs 34,37,903 (after addition of an extra 8.35 acres of land over the original 5.42 acres of land).

Questioning the source of the Memorandum of Agreement dated September 1, 2017, the MLA claimed that the document is missing various important details and information and alleged that it is only the Minister and a specific organisation/association who are bringing up issues about land dispute.

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