Local residents of Thangmeiband, Imphal West on Thursday expressed their concern for the non-pattadars who are settling at the foot of the Thangmeiband Cheiraoching (hill) range concerning the acquisition of land by the government for the construction of the proposed ring road.
The concern was raised by president of Thangmeiband United Club, Leishangthem Pratap on behalf of the people of Thangmeiband during a public hearing held at NL Club, Thangmeiband for seeking feedback of the affected persons in connection with the acquisition of land for the construction of the ring road in Imphal East.
It was organised by the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) unit, formed under the directorate of Environment and Climate Change at Nararol Leishemba Club, Thangmeiband for the villagers of 91(A)-Lamphelpat.
“We do not believe that the proposal raised by the villagers will be addressed by the government,” said Pratap, expressing the need of including a decision maker in organising the public hearing so that final decision can be taken on the spot of the hearing itself.
Joint director of Environment and Climate Change T Brajakumar who is also the member of the SIA unit informed the media that the team is a neutral and an independent body which acts as a bridge between the landowners and the government.
The opinion of the affected landowners will be submitted to the state government in the form of recommendation, he added.
Asserting that the unit is so far receiving positive approaches and suggestions from the villagers of the affected 25 villages in Imphal East, he said that a similar public hearing for the affected villagers of Imphal West district will also be conducted soon.
He further informed that the unit had published a 1st Draft Report on the acquisition of land for the construction of Imphal Ring Road within Imphal East district by conducting a survey of 120 days.
The existing traffic junction and intersection in the Imphal City shall become unmanageable by 2025 as per study, he said adding the construction of the ring road will help in reducing the traffic congestion in the Imphal City.
As per the 1st draft report of SIA unit, the Imphal Ring Road Project was approved by the Cabinet in 2013 while the department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance sent a proposal to Asian Development Bank to grant 122 million dollar (around Rs. 929.20 crore) for the project on February 24, 2020.
The project which will be about 47.765 km long affects the land of 707 households in 25 villages of Imphal East district.
A similar public hearing was also conducted at Heingang Gram Panchayat Ground in Imphal East for villagers of 4-Achanbigei, 16-Heingang, 17-Mongjam and 97-Chingmeirong Nongchup.
The public hearing for the Imphal East district began on April 19 and was concluded on Thursday for the Imphal East district.
