The United Committee Manipur (UCM) on Friday urged the Manipur government to rejuvenate the Manipur Rajbari (Redlands of Manipur) in Shillong into a historical living monument and restore the Manipur State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) complex in Dimapur and establish a Manipur Guest House in its complex.
In this regard, the UCM had submitted a memorandum to chief minister N Biren through minister S Sushindro seeking his kind intervention to address the matter.
The team of UCM were unable to physically meet the chief minister due to his busy schedule, however the chief minister had given his assurance through telephone that the state government will do whatever which can be done, said president of UCM Joychandra Konthoujam while speaking to the media at the UCM’s Lamphelpat office in Imphal West.
He said that the historic land plot of 'Redlands' measuring 81,884 square feet had been restored to Manipur in August last, however the residential building is now in dilapidated stage.
The Redlands is undoubtedly a heritage site of Manipur where Maharaja Bodhchandra was forced to signed the “ill-fated” Manipur Merger Agreement, 1949 under duress, he said adding the historical significance of the land the people’s emotion in the post colonial mind will be always associated with the Redlands.
Asserting that the land may lose its ownership right once again unless it is converted into a guest house and a new Manipur Bhavan is constructed for occupancy by Manipuri visitors to Shillong, the president appealed to the state government to preserve this Redlands as a historical living monument.
On August 13, 2021 chief minister N Biren had announced that the plot had been allotted to the Manipur government on payment of a premium of Rs. 91,04,784 and the state government had decided to build a Manipur Bhavan on the said plot.
Talking about the MSRTC in Dimapur, Joychandra categorically stated that it is in complete mess with literally no one to look after it and is also on the verge of losing its ownership rights.
Hr stressed that the area measuring 4.241 acres has been renamed as Hong Kong Market and the Manipur guest house constructed by the then Dimapur Meetei Union now Dimapur Meetei Council and shrine build by Kangla Mei has been acquired by a group related with a UG group based on Nagaland.
The MSRTC complex in Dimapur is considered as the business hub of Nagaland and has a huge potential of revenue generation, he pointed out.
Considering the facts, the president appealed to the government to restore the MSRTC and construct a Manipur guest house inside the complex for the convenience of the Manipur travellers.
Having such Rajbari at various locations of the Northeast states is the clear cut proof that Manipur was once an independent kingdom, he added.
