SHDDC presents case to Manmohan
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 07 2011:
With the State Government unable to give a definite timelime regarding their long standing demand, the Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister yesterday appealing to issue a clear cut instruction to the State Government for upgrading Sadar Hills to the status of a district without any further delay.
In accordance with the Constitution, the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Act was formulated in 1971 with a view to expedite development in hill areas.
The same Act authorised creation of Tamenglong ADC, Ukhrul ADC, Tengnoupal/Chandel ADC, Senapati ADC, Churachandpur ADC and Sadar Hills ADC, said the memorandum.
Of the six ADCs, five have materialised while Sadar Hills ADC continue to remain in limbo.
Even after waiting for three years, the Sadar Hills ADC did not materialise.
Subsequently, the Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee was constituted in 1974, said the memorandum.
Since then, people of Sadar Hills have been urging successive State Governments to declare Sadar Hills as a full fledged district.
The same demand has been accepted in principle by successive Governments.
The State Cabinet as well as the State Assembly took resolutions to fulfil the same demand again and again.
Even the Governor had given assurance on the floor of the State Assembly towards this end.
However, all these resolutions and assurances are being kept in abeyance till date.
The Government's failure to transform its own resolutions into action to fulfil the 39 years old demand has infuriated the people of Sadar Hills to the point of no return, conveyed the memorandum.
With regard to shortage of oxygen in JNIMS as stated by JNIMS authority due to ongoing blockade and general strike, SHDDC secretary Tonghen Kipgen said that it would be more appropriate and advisable for the JNIMS authority to take up the matter with the State Government.