'Govt should arrange for alternative livelihood or return lands to Monbung, Muozawl and Sejang villages'

IMPHAL, Sep 24
The Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur (CRA) expressed serious concern with the arbitrary transfer of land by the Government of Manipur to the Power Department, Manipur on June 23, 2021 without the consent of land owners of Mongbung and  Muozawl Village in Jiribam district.
CRA in a press release stated that the villages contended that the Government transferred land to the Power Department in favour of Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency (MANIREDA) without their consent.
Stating that such an act is violation of indigenous rights, CRA maintained that the Government should stop pursuing any project on the land of the villages without the consent and fresh agreements with the villagers.
It may be noted that the Chiefs of Monbung and Muolzawl villages donated 600 acres of land in favour of Agriculture Department for Manipur Plantation Crops Corporation Limited (MPCCL) under an agreement on January 2, 1981 solely to establish tea plantation to improve job and livelihood of the villagers.
The land was neither on sale nor acquired under Land Acquisition Act with compensations, added the release.
The villagers were expecting alternative arrangement for their land or the return of their donated land as the Tea Estate became dysfunctional since 2004.
However against the expectations of the villagers, the Government transferred the said land to MANIREDA without the consent of the villagers which is highly condemnable.
Hence CRA demanded that the Government should arrange alternative livelihood arrangement or return the lands to Monbung, Muozawl and Sejang villages at the earliest.