Singda Villagers decry eviction order
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Imphal, June 22 2013 : The Joint Action Committee protesting against Manipur Government's policy to evict Kadangband village in Singda burnt effigies of the Chief Minister, IFCD minister, Sekmai constituency MLA and IFCD Chief Engineer showing stiff opposition to the plan on Saturday.

The JAC organised a huge public meeting at Panthoibi Ground, Singda New Bazaar in protest against the government's plan for eviction of Kadangband village.

The meet among others took tough resolutions to stand collectively against the proposed eviction.

Manipur Government intends to evict the village for expansion of the Singda Dam.

Addressing the mammoth gathering, Lairenkabi Kadangband Gram Panchayat Pradhan Boby said people from different communities like the Meitei, Kuki, Mizo and Vaipei have been residing in the village of Singda Kadangband located between Imphal West and Senapati districts in harmony since 1975 .

He recalled that Singda Dam was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister of Manipur RK Dorendro in 1995 and blamed the Government for not looking after it till date ever since the inauguration.

The dam has not given any profit to the surrounding villages until then and the Government is now planning for development of Brindaval Garden by acquiring land by means of eviction of houses, granaries and shops in the village, Boby said, adding, "It is unacceptable" .

He dubbed the Government policy as an attempt to incite enmity among the ethnic communities in the village and called for a joined struggle against the policy.

Zeliangrong Union (Manipur, Nagaland and Assam) president Amu Kamei in his speech at the meet said that the state and Central Governments have constructed several dams in the state making false promises to the people.

He said no dam in the state has ever made any return to the people other than woes.

Dams built by the Governments for irrigation purposes have failed to supply water as they are now below the grounds where water should be given, Kamei pointed out saying such dams are no longer running now.

"We cannot allow the Government to do such things further.

The Government has to be defeated by our joint resistance against its policy," Kamei added.

Former MLA of Sekmai constituency, N Biren, Zeliangrong Students' Union (Manipur, Nagaland and Assam) president, John Pamei, village chiefs and members of several social organizations also attended the meet.

Meanwhile, the 24-hour bandh imposed along Imphal-Kangchup road by the JAC resisting the Government's proposed eviction to be carried out on the village of Kadangband disrupted traffic movement on the route.

The strike which began 6 pm yesterday ended at 6 pm Saturday.

Later on, the JAC burnt effigies of Chief Minister O Ibobi, IFCD minister Ngamthang Haokip, Sekmai constituency MLA Devendra and IFCD Chief Engineer Indramani protesting the eviction plan.

Comment