IMPHAL, June 22: A 24 hour public bandh imposed against the move of the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi led government to evict residents of some houses of Kadangband village in the name of revamping Singda Dam which started from 6pm yesterday concluded this evening at 6pm.
The bandh was called by Joint Action Against Forced Eviction of Singda Kadangband in association with the people in and around Singda Dam.
Vehicles remained off the road as tree branches were spread across the road and tyres set on fire upon the road. School buses and private vehicles trying to enter Singda Dam were not allowed entry.
A public meeting was held at the community hall of Panthoibi Lampak located at Singda Bazar during the public bandh with ex-MLA Ningthoujam Biren Singh as the chief guest and Thoudam Thoiba Mangang, chairman of Kadangband Part – I Khul Committee as the president.
John Pamei, president of All Zeliangrong Students’ Union ( Assam, Manipur, Nagaland), Amu Kamei, president of Zeliarong Union, (AMN), R Sakathan, chairman of Mapithel Dam Affected Villages Organisation (MDAVO), N Thanil, secretary of Life Watch, Jiten Yumnam, social activist and leaders of all the neighbouring communities and others participating in the meeting.
Speakers at the public meeting lamented that the Manipur government acquired land areas measuring 517 acres including part of Ireng village when the construction of the Singda dam began in 1975.
They continued that they will never accept the government’s decision that the land areas of Kadangband will be acquired again for development and beautification of the dam.
The dam has failed to provide other than some drinking water, though, the speakers echoed and added that during the start of its construction, it was said that electric power and irrigation facilities would be provided however nothing can be expected from the dam further, they added.
Delivering key note address at today’s meeting, N. Boby, Pradhan of Lairenkabi –Kadangband Gram Panchyat pointed out that people cannot trust the government as various actions have been taken up by the government surreptitiously without taking into its confidence tribes and Meiteis in the vicinity of the dam though it is to undertake the best work.
Resolutions adopted at the meeting include standing united against any forced eviction of residents of Kadangband/Ireng village by the Singda Dam expansion plan and beautification of Singda as tourist spot.
They further decided to demand for revocation of the land acquisition order dated May 28, 2013; that any development plan of Sinda including catchment area treatment, dam area expansion and beautification as tourist site should not be carried out without the free and prior information of all communities in and around Singda and that the government should respect and adhere to the provisions of the UN declaration on the Rights of Indigenous, 2007, the UN convenant on economic, social and culture rights etc., to remain united to defend Singda New Bazar, Kadangband and Ireng village and other areas in and around Singda for any forced eviction.
With the resolutions adopted by today’s meeting, the effigies of the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, IFCD Minister Ngamthang Hoakip, MLA Kh. Devendro Singh of Sekmai Constituency and Chief Engineer, IFCD were set to fire. Later, people who attended the meeting took out a rally up to the foothills of the Kangchup hill shouting slogans against the government move.