IMPHAL, May 21: The state Works and Transport Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar today assured that rehabilitation works for residents affected by the expansion and extension of the Imphal Tulihal Airport will be taken up on war footing.
The minister said this to journalists at his office chamber while briefing on his inspection tour conducted around the area where expansion works of Imphal Tulihal Airport are going on.
Dr Ratankumar was accompanied by RK Anand, MLA, Naoriya Pakhang-lakpa constituency, Deputy Commissioner, Imphal West and other state officials during the inspection trip which began from early morning and continued till late afternoon.
He said the inspection was conducted after Chief Minister, O Ibobi advised him to take up necessary steps to pay compensation to the affected residents of the areas and rehabilitate them at the earliest.
Two major issues were discovered during today’s inspection—resettlement policy for the affected residents and proper development of roads for them, Ratankumar added.
The areas affected by the airport expansion plan are Ningombam, Malom Tuliyaima, Kodompokpi Mayai Leikai and Atom villages.
There was a delay in clearing compensation to the residents of the areas due to a communication gap between the residents and concerned Land Revenue and Settlement authority, the minister maintained and said that certain loophole was found out such as, an area measuring 9.05 acre was wrongly entered in the compensation list as 8 acre.
All the controversial areas were conducted measurement during the inspection tour, Ratankumar said, adding that steps have also been taken up regarding residential ponds and crematoriums which are covered by the eviction process.
He added, discussions are on with the Deputy Commissioner, Imphal West on exclusion of holy places such as temples in the process as the local residents have requested to leave them.
Development of roads in the resettlement areas of the affected people would be taken up on war footing so as to complete it as much as we can before the rainy season, the minister assured. He also said a report on the inspection tour will also be submitted to the state Chief Minister.
MLA RK Anand said efforts will be made to end the impasse among the affected people, Airport Authority and officials of the state government over the airport expansion plan, assuring that the wishes of the people will be fulfilled at the earliest.
Anand also appealed to all concerned to sincerely extend support to every work taken up by the government.
During the trip, the minister’s team first visited Phuramakhong hill and met with the local residents after crossing Imphal-Mayang Imphal road via Langthabal. At Phuramakhong hill, the team inspected the area where a culvert measuring 12 metre is proposed to construct. Later, the minister instructed the concerned officials to prohibit taking of earth from the hill except the Airport Authority.
The team also visited Ningombam, Malom Tuliyaima, Kadompokpi Mayai leikai and atom villages where minister Ratankumar assured the villagers that their woes would be alleviated.
The Transport minister after winding up the trip further inspected the ongoing road repairing works being taken up by PWD along RIMS road and the road stretch from Heirangoithong to Wahengbam Leikai.