Month: July 2014

IMPHAL, July 8 (NNN): Railway is reaching Imphal in the next few years’ time but the people of Yurembam locality in Imphal West district are spending sleepless night gripping with apprehension that their locality will be wiped out by the government to construct a railway station.

On two occasions in the past, parts of their locality were acquired by the government to build power projects. But today, the local people Yurembam have pledged never to give in to the government this time.

Yurembam is a village since 663 AD and is 6 km from Imphal. It occupies around 6 Sq.km in area and is surrounded by Changangei and Tabungkhok(East) , Patsoi(North), Malom and Bamdhiar( South), Sagoltongba and Konthoujam(West). The village is inhabited by the Meiteis and Kabui Nagas.

People of Yurembam faced three times acquisition of land already. The first time was about 40 years back for establishment of 132 K.V. Power Sub-Station, Yurembam with Store Division of Govt. of Manipur. The second about 20 years back for establishment of Power Station of NEEPCO, Ltd and the third time was in the year 2010 for expansion of 400 K.V. power plant of the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. In those three acquisitions, there were prolonged agitation in the effort of preventing forcible acquisition.

Yet again, the Government of India and Manipur is targeting to acquire huge area in Yurembam for the construction of Trans Asian Railway line and station, and this has caused great fear, restlessness, shock, sleeplessness, irritation, infuriation to all the villagers as with this it certain that the village will be no more. We have collectively decided that we will no more give our land for any other purpose.

“From our previous experiences, we have learnt that issue of forcible land acquisition for what is known as public purpose, compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement are but bitter experiences for those who lost their ancestral land. Who can replace our homes, agricultural land, spiritual and cultural sites, our community play grounds and grazing areas of our cows? While we will never part our land, but then we also know our lands will be taken away when we cannot fight the mighty state. And the only thing to fall back is a ‘good’ Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy,” said the Joint Action Committee against the construction of railway station in Yurembam.

The JAC said that while appreciating that the government of Manipur came up with the Draft Rules of “The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013” we know that this is inadequate for those affected.

“First of all, English is not our language and most of us do not understand it properly for us to be able to comment on it. This will be true for most people in Manipur. One month is too little a time for affected people like us to give feedback. If the government is really keen to get real experience feedback then they must translate it to our local language and extend the comment period for another three months. We will also urge the government to conduct some kind of public consultations so that we can provide official inputs to the Draft,” the JAC stated.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/locals-decry-land-acquisition-for-rail-project/

IMPHAL, July 8: Four primary members of the BJP have been suspended for anti-party activities by Manipur Pradesh BJP president Thounaojam Chaoba.

“After thoroughly discussing the actions of some primary members of the party during last the two three months whereby they have lobbied and demanded the replacement of the President, four members have been suspended from the primary membership of the party under Article 27 (Sub-Section 3, 4) of the party’s Constitution,” a spokesman of the party said today.

They have been suspended from the party until further notice from the BJP Disciplinary Committee,” stated the spokesman, Salam Ibohal while briefing the media at the premises of the party office in Nityaipat Chuthek.

The primary members are former minister Salam Rajen Singh, a former Vice-president from Lamlai Kendra, Yumnam Khemchand, a former Vice-president from Singjamei Kendra, Naoroibam Ratan (Kapur) Singh from Heingang Kendra and Mongjam Poireihanba (Poirei) Singh from Lamlai Kendra he said.

He further said that the party will serve a show cause notice to the suspended members soon seeking explanations for acting against the Party. A four member disciplinary committee will take the final decision for acting against the Party.

Lamenting that the four have acted against the party leaders, he said they have lobbied national leaders for replacing the State president.

According to the party’s Constitution, disciplinary action can be taken against the persons who do not obey party leaders.

Meanwhile, the rebel group of the Manipur Pradesh BJP said that Amit Shah will assume charge as the national president of the BJP the day after.

After he assumes charge as the new president, there will be a change of guard in the State too, they said.

According to a source, lobbying with national leaders to remove Thounaojam Chaoba from the State party president ship is still on.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/four-bjp-members-suspended-from-party-rebels-undeterred/

IMPHAL, July 8: The JAC of the Bus Owners’ Association of Tiddim Road has set a deadline to the State government and the concerned department to fulfill their demands by July 10 failing which the committee will stop passenger vehicles from plying along the road the next day.

This was stated by Abujam Babu Singh, president of the JAC at a press conference on Tuesday. He also highlighted that they have been demanding the State government and the concerned authorities for the last four- five years to implement the State Transport Policy.

Continuing that despite repeated requests and demands to the competent authority for alleviating the traffic congestion in and around the city area their demands have been neglected, he said the association believes that their demands are legitimate.

“In this regard, a memorandum was submitted on June 28 to the concerned minster and a meeting was fixed on July 1. However, without prior information, the meeting was canceled,” he said.

He further said that due to non implementation of the State Transport Policy and the congestion in city areas, commotion and confrontation between different transporters plying in the state are commonplace.

The parking area at Wahengbam Leikai which is used by contract carriage permit holders associations is against the decision taken by the Traffic Regulation and Parking Committee, he asserted, adding that no measures have been taken to avoid traffic congestion so far.

He stated that the MV Act, 1988 applicable to contract carriage permit holders of Tiddim Road was not abided particularly by Tata Wingers, Tata Magic and Auto-rickshaws.

A number of associations are getting carriage contract permits from the State Transport Department without any proper verification which is against the provisions of Section 74 of MV Act, 1988. Those issued permits of these shady associations must be canceled, he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/tiddim-road-transporters-vow-action-against-govt-apathy/

IMPHAL, July 8: A high level meeting was reportedly convened by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh 9.15am this morning at his office chamber on the progress of the ongoing construction work of Sanjenthong Bridge.

According to highly reliable sources, the meeting minutely deliberated on the target of completion now becoming less uncertain with the Simplex Project limited reportedly putting forward the target of completion otherwise to Government expectation.

It is learnt that the Simplex set the completion of the bridge by February 2015 against Government’s declaration of finishing it before Sangai festival.

The meeting further dwelled on the possibilities of further expediting of the work completion to meet the target as announced earlier.

The meeting was also attended by Dr Kh Ratankumar Singh, Minister Works, additional chief engineer, superintending engineer, chief engineer of PWD and top officials of simplex company.

On the other hand, the dismantling of the old Sanjenthong bridge is yet to be completed due to lack of certain heavy machinery although the simplex assured to complete the task by June last.

To mop up the debris of old bridge the company is awaiting a crane with lifting capacity of upto 150 ton station at Guwahati but to bring in the machine in Manipur it is likely to take more than one week.

Of the 44 pillars to sustained the platform of the bridge, 20 pillars have been completed so far on the eastern side (bank) of the Imphal River of the required 22 however work is yet to be started on the Western side.

The PWD (Bridge Division) that is assisting the project closed down the bridge on April 30, 2014 and the ground work commenced from May 23 last.

The project has been estimated to be Rs 29 crore with 55.8 m in length and 22.27 wide. However, the simplex project limited is yet to receive any financial sanction from the Government’s side till date.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/govt-faces-prospect-of-new-sanjenthong-bridge-delay/

Jiribam, July 8: The four agitating students comprising of AMSU district committee Jiribam, MSF, special branch DESAM local council and KSA Jiribam unit who has been spearheading the total blockade along the NH-37 met the additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of Jiribam at his office chamber today. However, the meeting failed to reach any understanding.

The meeting which started from around 2.30 this afternoon was attended by representatives of the four student’s bodies and the ADC, Dr Harmit Singh Pahuja.

It has been informed that during the talks the ADC tried to convince the agitating students of the initiative taken by the Government including the active consideration being taken by the cabinet during its meeting held yesterday. At the same time, referring to the initiative of the Government the ADC appealed them (four students bodies) to call off their agitation taking into consideration the hardship endured by the public.

In response the agitating students declined to submit to the request citing the successive fail response from the Government’s side despite having apprised several times in the form of memorandums. Instead, they (students) demanded from the Government to issue an official gazette with regards to its demand or else continue with its agitation.

Further the agitating students warned to intensify its agitation if the Government remain deaf ear.

On the other hand, here in Imphal showing their solidarity the head office of the agitating students bodies urged the Government to bring an amicable solution at the earliest failing which it warned to join hand with their subordinating units in orchestrating the demands.

This was stated by Convenor of the Joint Student Coordination Committee, Thangjam Premananda in a press meet held today at Kangleipak Student Association, city Ideal School Kwakeithel.

The convenor held that the Government must take full responsibility of the outcome of the total blockade imposed along the NH-37 imposed since the midnight of July 4.

He further urged the concerned department to initiate befitting action against those teachers posted at Jiribam who failed to attend their duties failing which it demanded the resignation of the Education (S) Director, Commissioner and the Minister.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/agitating-students-fail-to-reach-truce-with-govt-at-jiri/

IMPHAL, July 8: The Popular Front of India, Manipur State, joined the condemnation of Congress leader, A. K. Anthony by the front’s national chairman, K.M. Sharrif, over the former’s statement that the minority voters ditched the Congress party in the last Lok Sabha election, leading to the unprecedented defeat of the Congress party.

In a statement, the Manipur wing of the PFI said this allegation by Anthony is totally baseless and a figment of his imagination.

It also resented that the Congress high command has not reprimanded Anthony yet warning this would not augur well for the party’s future.

The statement further said the complete rout of the Congress in the last general election was on account of the poor showing of the UPA government in its two terms of power where it totally neglected its promises to the minority communities.

It said Anthony was playing to the tune of Rightist parties adding the Congress is contributing to the ascendency of the Hindutva ideology by remaining silent on the matter of Anthony’s statement. It also said the people were never happy with the award of the defense portfolio to Anthony during the UPA’s reign.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/pfi-condemns-anthonys-statement/