CM stresses on need to redraw district boundaries
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 12 2024: Chief Minister N Biren has underscored the need to redraw district boundaries purely for administrative convenience, not on ethnic lines.

The Chief Minister made this statement on the floor of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

Replying to a cut attention motion raised by K Leishiyo on the boundaries of the newly created seven districts, N Biren stated that demarcation of all district boundaries including those of the newly created ones should be done for administrative convenience but it appears that thoughts of 'political convenience' superseded all other considerations when district boundaries were demarcated.

Pointing out that Kangpokpi district elongates as far as Bishnupur, the Chief Minister asked how the Fire Service of Kangpokpi would respond when fire breaks out in places close to Bishnupur.

In the East, Kangpokpi district almost touches Thoubal, he said.

It is a matter of grave concern that districts were apparently created on the basis of ethnicity.

As a result of this folly, the ethnic group which is dominant in a district thinks that the particular district belongs to them exclusively, Biren remarked.

This folly cannot be corrected immediately but it must be rectified even if it takes time, the Chief Minister asserted.

There are reports of the dominant group levying tax on other groups who constitute minorities in the particular district.

There are also reports of the dominant group checking movement of people belonging to the minority groups within the district.

All these activities are antithesis to the country's democratic set-up.

There are demands for rolling back the newly created districts and merger of certain villages which are currently under Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts with another district, he said.

There is also another demand to cut off the elongated portions of Kangpokpi district and merge them with another district.

"In order to resolve all these demands and grievances, we need to devise a permanent solution after due consultation with community leaders, elected leaders and CSOs", the Chief Minister told the House.

Raising the call attention motion, Leishiyo said that there are four/five villages which are listed under Kangpokpi district even though they are located beyond Phungyar.

Heinganglok falls under the jurisdiction of Kangpokpi police station but it would be impossible for Kangpokpi police to go all the way to Heinganglok and carry out any enquiry there, Leishiyo said.

Saying that the existing district boundaries have been rejected by the people, he urged the Government to redraw the district boundaries.

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