Imphal, August 24 2010: Measures to prevent overlapping of villages in the ongoing Census Operation 2011 and finalization of devolution of power to the recently constituted Autonomous District Council in the hill districts will be high on the agenda at the Cabinet meeting scheduled for tomorrow at the Chief Minister's Secretariat.

Mention may be made that in order to avoid overlapping of villages in the ongoing Census 2011 operation in the state government constituted a high level committee of officers headed by the chief secretary to examine the lists of the villages as per records maintained by the revenue department and hill department.

The source said that over 52 villages were found overlapping in the state.

A maximum number of 22 villages claimed both by Thoubal district and its adjoining districts, 16 villages were found to be claimed by both Imphal west and Senapati, 10 villages of Senapati were found having having jurisdiction problems both with Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts, two villages faced disputes between Senapati and Imphal east districts while another village of Imphal west faced dispute with Senapati district.

The main reason behind the overlapping of villages is the district boundaries.

For instance out of 14 villages within the revenue jurisdiction of Imphal west under Lamshang sub-division, 10 were also found included in the Sadar Hills (Kangpokpi) as per Hill house Tax Payment records of the Hill Department.

It may also be mentioned that the Committee of Protection of Tribal Areas Manipur (COPTAM) is also demanding rectification of overlapping district boundaries in the census operation.

The body demands de-linking of revenue collection from the Census operation and district boundary demarcation, and an immediate conduct of Census in the overlapping villages to be carried out by concerned hill districts as was done till 2001 Census.

They are also demanding maintaining of land records in the respective hill districts and collection of land revenues thereof by the concerned hill districts and initiation of constitutional protection of Manipur tribal areas as was done in all tribal areas of North-East India.

The Cabinet which will be chaired by Chief Minister, O Ibobi will also discuss the agenda on devolution of power to the ADCs in the hill districts.

The agenda was discussed in the cabinet meeting of yesterday but was defered because of differences sectors of some departments from which power is to be handover to the ADCs.

The Cabinet is likely to resolve the matter as the government is trying its best for an effective functioning of the ADCs which were revived after a 20 year gap.

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