Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday said that the government provides proper compensation for any land acquired from the public, and urged people against illegal encroachments of land, including reserved forest areas and water bodies.
The chief minister was speaking to mediapersons after the launch of the Free Eye Check-up and Spectacles Distribution Camp for Ukhrul district held at the Chief Minister’s Bungalow, Babupara in Imphal on Friday.
Terming the Sora land issue unfortunate, Biren said the land for setting up the National Sports University was acquired by the previous government and all compensations have been paid to the surrounding villages. Now, when steps are being taken up for boundary fencing, disturbances have been created, he said.
The chief minister appealed to the people to stop encroaching on government land and said that those who are encroaching government land should leave the land immediately before stringent steps are taken by the state government.
Stating that government doesn’t want to use force to evict illegal encroachers, he appealed to all illegal encroachers to vacate their encroachments anywhere in the state whether it is illegal encroachments on water bodies like the Loktak Lake, Reserved Forest Areas in the Hills, government land, khas-land, paddy fields, highways, etc.
Biren lauded the shopkeepers and residents of both Paona Bazar and Thangal Bazar for understanding and accommodating the policy programme of the government to decongest traffic in the market areas. He said the new parking arrangement was taken up for the convenience of shopkeepers as well as shoppers who come from all corners of the state.
The chief minister further stated that under the 100 days’ programme, the government has included inauguration of Tombisana Market Complex, market at Lamphel to shift street vendors and a temporary market for street vendors has been constructed in the front portion of Ima Market.
Biren also appealed to the street vendors against occupying the roadsides, which could create inconvenience for the public.
Also, terming the arrest of a security official in Assam with drugs unfortunate, Biren warned that any police personnel involved in drug-related cases will be sent to jail for a period of at least one-two years.
Three persons were arrested in Assam, including one constable in CID (security) office, Manipur Police for possession of drugs. "The government will not tolerate the police personnel reported to be personal security officer (PSO) of an MLA," the CM said.
Biren said police verification for the newly recruited Manipur police has been continuing and if any police personnel is found to be involved in drug-related cases, then necessary legal action will be taken which could be a period of one-two years' jail term.
The chief minister said the arrested person will be brought back to Imphal.
The Netra Kumbh Manipur Free Eye Check-up and Spectacle Distribution Camp was organised under the banner ‘Cornea Andhatv Mukta Bharat Abhiyan’ by the SAKSHAM Manipur Prant in association with Peh Youth Organisation, Ukhrul.
