Villagers oppose Govt's move
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 11 2015: Chingkhu Village Authority and Chingkhu-Khundrakpam Loukol Kanba Lup have jointly opposed Government's move to set up a film city/institute at the area.

Regarding the matter, a public meeting was held at Chingkhu community hall today.

Apart from a large number of people from Chingkhu, Sambei, Haraorou, Tang-kham, Khundrakpam and Pangei etc representatives of Information Centre for Hill Areas of Manipur (ICHAM), Conservation of Paddyland Protection Committee, LOUSAL and Protection of Agricultural Land and Resources took part in the meeting.

It was also resolved in the meeting to block Imphal-Saikul road indefinitely if the Government fails to announce within five days that the film institute would be shifted to another place.

They also decided to boycott the public leaders of the area if they fail to act according to the wish of the people.

The meeting also resolved that no official regarding setting up of film city/institute would be allowed to enter the area.

The people of the area also decided to work together with Conservation of Paddy-land Protection Committee, Manipur towards protection of agricultural lands.

Chingkhu-Khundrakpam Loukol Kanba Lup president Nongthombam Iboyaima said that people erupted in protest in September last year after some Government officials surveyed land for setting up of a film city at Chingkhu.

As people strongly opposed the Government's decision, the Central Government project was shifted to Arunachal Pradesh, he said.

On July 20 this year, some section of the media reported that the State Government had decided to establish a film city/institute at Khundrakpam.

However, land survey for the said purpose was conducted in Chingkhu, he added.

On August 23 this year, a large public meeting was held to protest the Government's decision.

However, the State Government remained unmoved and took a Cabinet decision to establish the institute by purchasing land from the people of the area, Iboyaima said.

ICHAM president N Rajendro, who attended today's meeting, urged the villagers not to remain silent as the Government would acquire a vast tract of agriculture land which is a livelihood for over 20,000 people, to set up the film institute.

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