Imphal, Feb 25: Even as Chief Minister O Ibobi Sin-gh had announced on the floor of the State Assembly that fund meant for the construction of National Insti- tute of Technology (NIT) in the State has been sanctioned, stiff opposition to the proposed NIT site continues to prevail.
Condemning the State Government ‘persistent effort’ to demarcate land for the establishment of the controversial National Institute of Technology (NIT) at Langol-Lamphelpat in Imphal West which led to the injury of 12 women protestors owing to the police lathi-charged on Satur- day, the Kuki Students’ Organization-General head- quarters (KSO-Ghq) has on Sunday expressed reservation over the Government plan of acquiring 300 acres of land for the establishment of NIT at the cost of three localities (leikais).
In a statement, the KSO (Ghq) general secretary Thangzamang Haokip cautioned that the land acqui- sition will create social upheaval leading to the deraci- nation of six recognized and unrecognized high schools, four orphanages run by various charities, ten religious establishments, 317 houses and 274 plots, and the displacement of more than 1860 people.
Pleading for the immediate reversal of Govt’s plan for the construction of NIT in the present location, the statement also pointed out that majority of the residents of Langol are displa- ced people who were evict-ed from their earlier resi- dents near Palace Compound in Imphal East back in the early nineties.
It also ruled that the present Secular Progressive (SPF) Government in the State must find an alternate way to shift its plan in the matter of its plan elsewhere where hundreds of acres of open land are very much suitable for the location of the NIT construction.
It may be mentioned here that 12 women protestors were injured when police and Indian Reserved Battalion (IRB) lathi-charged them on Saturday for “interfering and challenging to disturb government officials from demarcation” of land for the establishment of NIT at Langol in Imphal West.
Raising stiff opposition against the setting up of NIT at Langol-Lamphelpat area in Imphal, different forms of protests had been staged by the residents and demanded for the shifting of the site to other suitable location in the State. However, the Chief Minister has on Thursday said that a fu-nd for the setting up of the institute has been sanctioned.
Expressing objections to any plan of encroachment to any patta land situated along the foothills of Lan-gol, the KSO statement also makes known its readiness to face any eventualities ari-sing out of the “anti-people policy,” and warned that the students’ organization will fight tooth and nail to thwart the ‘destructive poli-cy’. Thangzamang also conveyed that the KSO wanted to know whether the SPF Govt has any hidden agenda behind the plan to construct the institute at Langol area in Imphal. It also said that, since all major infrastructures are mainly concentrated within Grea-ter Imphal area, and further asked, what could be more gratifying example if the NIT is to be located outside Im-phal city, which is already monopolizing creation of public assets and infrastructures in the state?
Endorsing the demand of the Churachandpur District Students’ Union (CDSU) to set up the NIT in Chura-chandpur district, the KSO also termed it “unfortunate” at the “step-motherly treatment” meted out to the hill districts of Manipur when it comes to creation of important assets and infrastru- ctures in the state.
Meanwhile, a group of protestors marching toward the Assembly to raise their demand for withdrawal of the proposal being made by the Government to set up NIT at Langol-Lamphelpat area were lathi-charged by the police in front of the Family Welfare Office this afternoon.
The protestors have sneaked though the Bazar area but were prevented by the police from going ahead in front of the Family Welfare office at around 1 pm today.
The Sangai Express
Condemning the State Government ‘persistent effort’ to demarcate land for the establishment of the controversial National Institute of Technology (NIT) at Langol-Lamphelpat in Imphal West which led to the injury of 12 women protestors owing to the police lathi-charged on Satur- day, the Kuki Students’ Organization-General head- quarters (KSO-Ghq) has on Sunday expressed reservation over the Government plan of acquiring 300 acres of land for the establishment of NIT at the cost of three localities (leikais).
In a statement, the KSO (Ghq) general secretary Thangzamang Haokip cautioned that the land acqui- sition will create social upheaval leading to the deraci- nation of six recognized and unrecognized high schools, four orphanages run by various charities, ten religious establishments, 317 houses and 274 plots, and the displacement of more than 1860 people.
Pleading for the immediate reversal of Govt’s plan for the construction of NIT in the present location, the statement also pointed out that majority of the residents of Langol are displa- ced people who were evict-ed from their earlier resi- dents near Palace Compound in Imphal East back in the early nineties.
It also ruled that the present Secular Progressive (SPF) Government in the State must find an alternate way to shift its plan in the matter of its plan elsewhere where hundreds of acres of open land are very much suitable for the location of the NIT construction.
It may be mentioned here that 12 women protestors were injured when police and Indian Reserved Battalion (IRB) lathi-charged them on Saturday for “interfering and challenging to disturb government officials from demarcation” of land for the establishment of NIT at Langol in Imphal West.
Raising stiff opposition against the setting up of NIT at Langol-Lamphelpat area in Imphal, different forms of protests had been staged by the residents and demanded for the shifting of the site to other suitable location in the State. However, the Chief Minister has on Thursday said that a fu-nd for the setting up of the institute has been sanctioned.
Expressing objections to any plan of encroachment to any patta land situated along the foothills of Lan-gol, the KSO statement also makes known its readiness to face any eventualities ari-sing out of the “anti-people policy,” and warned that the students’ organization will fight tooth and nail to thwart the ‘destructive poli-cy’. Thangzamang also conveyed that the KSO wanted to know whether the SPF Govt has any hidden agenda behind the plan to construct the institute at Langol area in Imphal. It also said that, since all major infrastructures are mainly concentrated within Grea-ter Imphal area, and further asked, what could be more gratifying example if the NIT is to be located outside Im-phal city, which is already monopolizing creation of public assets and infrastructures in the state?
Endorsing the demand of the Churachandpur District Students’ Union (CDSU) to set up the NIT in Chura-chandpur district, the KSO also termed it “unfortunate” at the “step-motherly treatment” meted out to the hill districts of Manipur when it comes to creation of important assets and infrastru- ctures in the state.
Meanwhile, a group of protestors marching toward the Assembly to raise their demand for withdrawal of the proposal being made by the Government to set up NIT at Langol-Lamphelpat area were lathi-charged by the police in front of the Family Welfare Office this afternoon.
The protestors have sneaked though the Bazar area but were prevented by the police from going ahead in front of the Family Welfare office at around 1 pm today.
The Sangai Express
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