Civil bodies demand settlement of sports varsity land dispute

From Our Correspondent

KANGPOKPI | July 30

A bandh free district envisaged with the attainment of district status of Kangpokpi could suffer a set back with a bandh in the offing. The proposed bandh is in connection with the controversy over the National Sports University alleged land encroachment. 

Several civil voluntary organisations in the district are all set to launch agitation from August 6, 6 pm if their demand over the issue of National Sports University is not addressed positively within the stipulated time.

The decision to begin protest has been taken during the joint meeting of CVOs held today at Kangpokpi district headquarters over the National Sports University alleged land encroachment at Koutruk, Senjam Chirang and Sejam Khunou in Imphal West.

The CVOs mainatined that in spite of repeated appeals and numerous memoranda submitted to the chief minister of Manipur to look into the dispute in connection with the setting up of National Sports University the state government has turned blind towards the issue of land encroachment at the proposed site.

It pointed out that as per the orders by the governor of Manipur, dated December 28, 2016 allotting 325.60 acres of land to the director, Youth Affairs & Sports, Manipur under Dag.No.1 of village No.47-Koutruk included a land measuring about 137.62 acres of Haraothel, now L. Tangnaum village.

“L. Tangnaum, previously known as Haraothel village is legitimately under Saitu-Gamphazol Sub-Division in Sadar Hills, now Kangpokpi District”, they asserted and added that unfortunately the state government has ignored this fact and fail to acknowledge the same in the orders. 

They also alleged that despite all these facts, the state government is avoiding all disputes and the playing party to the illegal encroachment of Hill land under Kangpokpi district administration.

They also pointed out that the chief of L. Tangnaum (Haraothel) village is not against the setting up of the National Sports University rather his demand is that his ownership of the land be acknowledged by the state government and rectify the orders to begin the process of land allocation that too after including Kangpokpi district as a land measuring around 137.62 acres of L.Tangnaum (Haraothel) is also included in the orders under C.S. Dag.No.1 as listed under No.47-Koutruk.

The CVOs further said that after examining all these facts, they have decided to demand the state government to halt all construction works undergoing at the disputed site immediately and begin the process of dispute settlement.