Village Authority opposes cabinet decision to acquire tribal land
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 10 2024: Makhan (Makhen) Village Authority has expressed strong resentment of the state cabinet's decision to acquire tribal land measuring 130 acres contiguous to Leimakhong Military Station for handing over to the Army in exchange for 74.24 acres of land at Koirengei Old Airfield.

The decision was reportedly taken during a state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister N Biren Singh in Chandel district on January 15, 2024.According to a release jointly issued by Makhan village chief Ab Kailamdinang and chairman Amang Abonmai, the land to be acquired belongs to Makhan Liangmai Naga village.

So, it was hostile decision taken by the cabinet to grab the land of the tribal people without the consent of landowners.

Terming the decision as anti-people, the release pointed out that the land is the only farmland, where the people practice agriculture and its allied activities since ages.

"The decision of the Manipur government trying to siege our land without intimation and prior consultation and knowledge of Makhan Village Authority is inappropriate and mind boggling," the joint release stated, adding that the decision bares the image of utter failure of the government to delve further into the democratic and ethical principles and values before having an undertaking of such massive decision concerning tribal lands.

While pointing out that it will be of a timely needed knowledge to be told of a history of the Makhan village land, measuring 87 acres, being forcefully ceded to Leimakhong Army and till date the village has not even been given the land compensation, the joint release added that in the recent past another 301 acres of land had been acquired by the state government for Indira Gandhi National Tribal University-Regional Campus, Manipur (IGNTU-RCM) but yet to be monetarily compensated.

"It won't be extreme to say that this deep slumber of the government to the Makhan Village's plights, dilemma and dire straits is infinitely despairing and sorrowful", it stated.

While condemning the decision of the cabinet, the joint release appealed to authorities concerned to repeal and rectify the decision at the earliest.

"We are not going to dwell in the delight of compensation or whatsoever; this is our farmland, our only livelihood.

We will have no other choice than to oppose it with our life and death, because this farmland is our soul, bread and water", the joint release maintained.

Comment