RK Ranjan flays ring road plan
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 22, 2013: Taking serious note of the notification issued on November 8 this year for acquisition of land for construction of a ring road from Sendra to Ishok around Loktak Lake, Dr RK Ranjan has questioned whether the State Government has studied the Land Acquisition Amendment Act passed by the Parliament last year.

In protest against the Government plan to acquire land for the ring road, people of 19 villages held a meeting at Khoijuman Langol Ningthou community hall today.

A large number of farmers and fishermen who would be affected by the land acquisition move attended the meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, environmentalist Dr RK Ranjan said that according to the Land Acquisition Amendment Act, the Government should first obtain consent of the people if it should acquire land for any project.

The Government has no authority to bulldoze its way.

Villagers need to find out whether the land acquisition notification was issued by the State Government after studying the Land Acquisition Amendment Act.

If it happens that the Government issued the notification without studying the amended Act, people should register their objection with the authorities concerned.

Construction of ring road around Loktak Lake may help in maintaining a healthy water level for power generation but it would destroy a large number of fish farms which are the only source of livelihood for poor fishing families, Ranjan said.

Almost all the 19 villagers which would be left outside the ring road and large areas of paddy fields and fish farmers would be submerged under water.

It is also crucial to find out whether the Loktak Protection Act and the proposed ring road have any link.

If the people are against the proposed ring road which is being planned in the interest of big corporate bodies, it is the right time to raise a strong voice of objection, he asserted.

BJP State unit president Th Chaoba said that the State Government is still unable to pay full compensation to the people affected by Loktak Project.

After several huts belonging to fishing families have been set ablaze, the Government is again planning to take over more land.

The Government's move in an open invitation for strong mass movement.

Human right activist W Joykumar opined that the local MLAs consent would be surely taken even if people were not given prior information.

The Government ought to inform the people about the project and take their consent in compliance with general procedures.

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