MSRTC land in Dimapur : State to probe its status
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 10 2010: A high level official team of Manipur Government led by Transport Minister L Jayantakumar will be deputed to look into the alleged encroachment on the land of MSRTC complex at Dimapur Town Block-III.

Works Minister K Ranjit Singh, Tourism Minister TN Haokip, Deputy Chairman of State Planning Board Bijoy Koijam, Chairman of Manipur Pollution Control Board E Dwijamani and Deputy Speaker Lokeshore as well as Commissioner (Transport) and Director of Transport would be part of the team.

During their proposed 3 to 4 day long visit, the official team is also expected to meet the Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur, Chief Minister of Nagaland and the Revenue Minister to discuss the issue.

The land measuring 4.241 acres is reported to have been allotted by the Nagaland Government to the Government of Manipur for development of MSRTC complex.

According to an official source, after the Government of Manipur abolished MSRTC in 2003, the land had been given on lease to M/s Northern Agencies at MG Avenue (Imphal) and M/s Asui Enterprises at Fairyland, Chingmeirong with the permission of the then Transport Minister Phungzathang Tonsing on June 27, 2006 .

In accordance to the lease agreement, M/s Northern Agencies and M/s Asui Enterprises have to pay a monthly rent of Rs 16,000 and Rs 19,000 respectively.

In the lease agreement, MSRTC has also been given the power to terminate the lease after giving a month's notice.

However, after regular payment of rent for sometime, the two agencies stopped paying their monthly rent with effect from January 2008 and on March 20, 2008, the two agencies submitted a written application to the Director of Transporter with the request for parity in payment of rent at Rs 16,000 in view of spending an additional Rs 14,000 on water and electricity bills.

The request of the two agencies has been subsequently referred to the Government for a final decision.

It is said that wall fencing of the MSRTC complex has broken down and encroached upon by the Sema people who have started constructing a Church.

The middle portion of the complex used to be parking lot for vehicles.

However, on account of frequent 'tax collection' from these vehicles by miscreants, the parking lot has been shut down, sources added.

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