Imphal, May 08: Admitting that plots of land have been allotted to private parties illegally at Khuman Lampak bus terminus and at Lamphel, Chief Minister O Ibobi today informed the Assembly that the State Government has initiated legal proceedings to take back the land.

Replying to a call attention motion jointly raised by O Joy and Th Shyamkumar of the MPP, the Chief Minister said that the area where the bus terminus stands was given to the Imphal Municipality in 1961 to set up a sweepers' colony.

The total area of the land was 10 acres.

On Many 23, 1993, 0.37 acres of land were allotted to 32 individuals, who were genuine sweepers of the IMC, said the CM and added that another 0.1426 acres of land was allotted in the name of the president of Kabo Leikai Nupi Keithel Development Committee in 1995.After the allotment, the total area of the land no stands at 9.135 acres, informed the Chief Minister.

Taking a serious note of the land allotment, the Government has been trying to cancel the allotment order and reclaim the land, said Ibobi.

However nothing much can be done presently as the Gauhati High Court had stayed the cancellation order of the Government.

Asserting that the SPF Government is committed to check any illegal allotment of land in Imphal area, the Chief Minister informed the House that a Cabinet sub-committee headed by him has been set up to foil any attempt to allot land on the sly and without the prior approval of the Town Planning authority.

Ibobi further said that the Government is seriously mulling over the possibility of taking over the Khuman Lampak bus terminus from the IMC and hand it over to the Transport Department.

The IMC would be compensated.

With the stated objective of developing the bus terminus to a modern bus stand, a sum of Rs 10 crores has been ear marked, informed the Chief Minister.

On the allotment of land at Lamphel to 74 individuals including a former Chief Engineer of the IFCD, the Chief Minister said that the land was allotted by one (Late) A Tombi, who was then the Assistant Settlement Officer.

When the matter came to the notice of the Government, Tombi was immediately placed under suspension and a case was registered with the Vigilance, he informed.

During the course of investigating the case Tombi passed away, said the Chief Minister but added that the probe is proceeding smoothly.

All legal actions would be taken up to reclaim the land, asserted the Chief Minister.

The two MPP MLAs also drew the attention of the Revenue Minister and urged him to check such malpractices in the future.

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