State Govt asks Centre to send border survey team
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, July 12 2018: Chief Minister N Biren Singh has stated that the State Government has written to the Centre to send a border survey team of the Government of India to conduct verification on the positions of subsidiary pillars from main Border Pillar No 80 to 82 on the India-Myanmar boundary and more particularly main Border Pillar No 81 in the presence of all stake holders so as to clear doubts in the minds of the public.

At a press conference held at the Chief Minister's Secretariat regarding the issues of Indo-Myanmar boundary and Manipur University today, N Biren Singh refuted the recent allegation of shifting of the main Border Pillar No 81 within Manipur.

Asserting that BP 81 is still at the same site where it was erected as per the India-Myanmar Boundary Agreement, 1967, the Chief Minister expressed deep concern over dissemination of wrong informing to public by certain sections as if BP 81 was shifted inside Manipur's territory during the tenure of the present Government.

As the said issue has caused anxiety and doubts in the minds of the public, the State Government is making all out efforts to address the issue, taking into consideration the interests of the State and sentiments of the general public, he added.

Biren said that after a local newspaper reported about the alleged loss of a sizable piece of Manipur's land to Myanmar on June 26, the State Government on June 27 wrote to the Government of India, and requested to issue an advisory to the Joint Survey Team to put on hold the survey work till the issue is resolved.

The State Government then received a letter on June 29 from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs which stated that this segment (BP 80 to 82) has been long settled and there is no ambiguity about the alignment of the boundary, the Chief Minister said while adding that the only work that was being undertaken, as far as the State Government is aware, was a joint survey for putting up subsidiary pillars and identifying encroachments, if any.

The Ministry further asked the State Government to inform the Government of India, if it would like to conduct verification or visit the site, so that the officials concerned could be sent to Manipur for the same, added the Chief Minister.

Earlier on March 5 this year, the Chief Minister said, the Government of India wrote to the State Chief Secretary informing that a Survey of India team would reach here March 12 for joint survey and construction of subsidiary pillars between main BP 80 and 82 .

The joint survey so conducted was for erection/construction of subsidiary pillars from BP 80 to 82 while the main BP 81 was left untouched.

During the joint survey conducted from March 12 to June 12, no written or verbal complaint about the position of main BP 81 was lodged either with the survey team or authorities concerned, Biren said.

The Chief Minister further said that the DC and the SP Tengnoupal visited Kwatha on December 1 to inform the villagers about the survey of subsidiary pillars.

N Biren also showed old boundary maps of Manipur and Myanmar of 1913 and 1957 to media persons to make clear that there has been no alteration in the location of BP 81 so far.

He further added that in view of the concerns raised on the issues of international boundary vis-a-vis traditional boundary, the State Government has been holding consultations with several stake holders including the United Committee Manipur (UCM) .

Biren said that he had met the representatives of UCM on July 11 and compared notes on traditional boundary in the backdrop of the 1967 Boundary Agreement and old maps (1913 and 1957) from Government records.

Regarding Manipur University issue, the Chief Minister said that a team of the State Government led by him would meet Union Human Resources Development Minister Prakash Javadekar to apprise him about the present situation of the varsity tomorrow.

The Chief Minister said that taking the present unrest at the varsity seriously, the State Government has been making all possible efforts including meeting the representatives of MUTA and MUSU and explaining the stand of the Manipur University community to the Union Human Resources Development Minister.

Stating that there is no question of taking the issue lightly by the State Government, he said that the State Cabinet had held meetings on many occasions to discuss the matter.

The Chief Minister further said that as Manipur University is a Central Government institution, the State Government can't intervene into its affairs.

However, taking serious note of the academic career of the students of the State, the State Government has been trying to explore all possible means to resolve the issue, he added.

On his request, Biren said, the Union HRD Minister deputed a Joint Secretary to take stock of the situation.

The Chief Minister further said that he had told MUTA representatives that he is willing to request the Union HRD Minister to relieve the present VC of his duties till the completion of an enquiry regarding the allegations levelled against him.

He further said that the present VC can be penalised or sacked if the allegations are proven.

Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar Singh, IPR Minister Th Biswajit, Revenue Minister Karam Shyam, Water Resources Minister Letpao Haokip, Forest and Environment Minister Th Shyamkumar, PHE Minister L Dikho, Agriculture Minister V Hangkhanlian, Social Welfare Minister Nemcha Kipgen and Education Minister K Radheshyam were also present at the press conference.

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