Newmai News Network
Imphal | April 22
Information Centre for Hill Areas Manipur (ICHAM) on Friday demanded the Manipur government to immediately steer clear of the Indo-Myanmar border fencing works.
The demand comes following the formation of a new committee to deal with the issue. The new committee, set up here, is represented by headmen and other leaders from 40 different villages of Chandel and Ukhrul districts. Three districts—Churachandpur, Chandel and Ukhrul share over 390 km-long porous border with neighbouring Myanmar.
Information Centre for Hill Areas Manipur (ICHAM) said the committee had been established after finding that border fencing on the Manipur sector of the India-Myanmar border was being carried out in a complicated manner by the government.
“The committee should be allowed to involve in all activities related to the fence work from now onwards,” ICHAM president M Rajendro told reporters after announcement on formation of the committee.
He warned the government that the committee would firmly deal with it if any further border fencing works is taken up without consulting it.
Rajendro also expressed concern about the recent claim by the government that the ongoing fencing construction was only a security barrier and not real border fence. He alleged that the government was not keen on resolving the border issue.
ICHAM also expressed its displeasure at the Manipur government for allegedly allowing a team from Survey of India to sneak into Kwatha Khunou area to inspect border fencing work recently. The government had claimed that it was not aware of the team coming to the area.
ICHAM had demanded that the state government clarify its stand on the inspection visit giving April 22 as deadline. The state government though made clarifications. It has been estimated that a large chunk of Manipur (about 1,000 sq km) land would be lost to Myanmar due to the proposed fence.
