Govt urged to take public consent for ringroad project
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 16 2021: In order to discuss the ongoing move to construct the ADB-nnanced Imphal Ring Road project amidst Covid 19 pandemic and concerns of the affected people, Centre for Research and Advocacy Manipur (CRA) and Youth Forum for Protection of Human Rights in Manipur organised a consultation on "ADB financed Imphal Ring Road in Manipur" at Manipur Press Club here on Saturday.

In a release, CRA president Sanaton Laishram informed that the participants resolved that the state government and Asian Development Bank should not construct the Imphal Ring Road project without the consent of all the indigenous communities to be affected by the project.

Government should withdraw the eviction notices served to villages of Tharon, Langthabal Chingthak and others to be affected by the project, he continued while adding that the affected villagers also resolved to submit representation to the state government, central government and Asian Development Bank to consider their rights and seek alternatives of the project.

Delivering keynote address in the consultation programme, CRA Jiten Yumnam said that developmental projects need consent of all indigenous people and should seek sustainable alternatives.

All projects financed by Asian Development Bank (ADB) such as Imphal Ring Road, should be preceded by conduct of detailed impact assessment and to apply their safeguard policies, he added.

Speaking at the event, Tharon village chairman Th Ramei furnished the eviction notice served to villagers on August 27, 2021 that labelled the villagers as encroachers in their own village.

Villagers fear of losing their land and forced displacement, he lamented, while adding that the project authorities failed to consult or seek their consent.

The Tharon village will cease to exist if the Ring road passes through their village, he said.

Nongthombam Radharani of Nongpok Lejngak Apunba Nup shared that the proposed Imphal Ring Road project will affect the residential areas in Khurai Konsam Leikai and historic Ipum pat, which is also a sacred cultural site revered by the Meiteis.

Affecting lpum pat and displacing villagers is unacceptable, she made it clear, while stressing that development should not be forced on people and the ring road should not be constructed in residential and congested areas.

James Gonmei of Langthabal Chingthak also shared that eviction notice had been served in his village.

Any compensation can never compensate for the loss of their ancestral land and livelihood.

Construction of Imphal Ring Road near Manipur University is unreasonable.

Development cannot be pursued by hurting people's sentiments and by violating their fundamental rights, he maintained.

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