IMPHAL, October 8: The locals of Ningombam who are awaiting the decision of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh on the issue of extending the deadline for their eviction from the area have pleaded for some more time asking the government to pay the remaining amount of compensations before making them shift to the land allocated by the government near the Heibok hill for the speedy expansion of Tulihal airport.
Ningombam locals made this appeal at a press meet at the venue of the land eviction drive.
Ch Open, a local, speaking on behalf of Ningombam people, said people were disappointed that the government took the decision of the land eviction before October 6 without paying the compensation.
The place where the government has allocated land near the Heibok hill is in a wretched state unsuitable for human habitation, he added.
Moreover, the soil needed for levelling the ground is not available at the moment and will cost a lot in buying the soil needed, he said, adding that people are facing various problems such as lack of potable water, electricity and not to mention the deplorable conditions of the road, he said.
In this situation, making the people stay in that land forcibly will be a punishment to the people, he added.
He further said that if the government tries to forcibly evict people from the land without paying the compensation then Ningombam locals will fight off such attempts within an inch of their lives.
There are around 200 households but 60 households are yet to be compensated, he stated while appealing for the prompt payment of the compensation.
However, in spite of this pitiable condition faced by us, Wangoi SDO has served a notice on September 27 to evacuate the land and settle in the new allocated land by October 6, he added.