Newmai News Network
Imphal, Nov 24: The ministerial team of Manipur which has been in Nagaland for the past 3 days on account of property dispute between the two governments, has returned today to Imphal after having received assurance of “justice” from Nagaland chief minister, Neiphiu Rio.
Significantly, a property measuring 4.241 acres in Nagaland’s commercial hub Dimapur town’s Block III was allocated to the Government of Manipur by Nagaland Government in 1969 for use by Manipur State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) to facilitate inter-state transport related assistances. Apparently, the property has been dealt out to several individuals by authorities of the Nagaland government without the knowledge of Manipur government. This has been the bone of contention between the two governments for quite sometimes now, necessitating a solution to this effect.
Speaking upon arrival from the 3-day visit to Nagaland, the Manipur ministerial team expressed their confidence following assurance given to them by Neiphiu Rio, Nagaland chief minister, by spelling out with no uncertain term that the property that was surreptitiously redistributed to seven private individuals will be rightfully restored.
L Jayanta Kumar, Education and Transport minister, Government of Manipur, who led the team, said that, the Nagaland chief minister assured the visiting Manipur ministers that it is a matter of inter-state relationship and justice will be honored in the case.
DD Thaisi, Tribal Development minister, Government of Manipur, expressed similar tone saying, the chief minister of Nagaland has assured justice and that it will not be fair on the part of the Nagaland Government to allot the said property without having informed the Government of Manipur on whose name the property has been recorded.
During the 3-day stay in Nagaland and prior to meeting the Nagaland chief minister, the visiting Manipur ministers conducted a survey for verification of the property in Dimapur Block III whereupon the knowledge that the property has already been surreptitiously redistributed to seven individuals on September 27 this year by Nagaland authority came to light.
Thereupon, the visiting ministers appraised the Nagaland chief minister and conveyed the importance of the property for the Government of Manipur for the construction of travel facilities under MSRTC.
Besides Jayanti Kumar and DD Thaisi, Thangminlen, chairman, Hill Area Committee (HAC) was also part of the visiting ministers to Nagaland.