LNC pledges to protect Koubru

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Apr 12 : The Liangmai Naga Council (LNC), Eastern Zone has reiterated its stand to protect the Koubru Hill range in general an the particular sacred site of Lord Koubru from being encroached and destroyed by any community as the entire Koubru hill range is sacred to the Liangmai people.
A memorandum submitted by the LNC Eastern Council to Governor Dr Najma Heptulla said “Koubru Hill range not only forms a part of our ancestral land but was also held sacred by our forefathers as it was revered and preserved as the abode of the Koubo Ra (Lord of Koubru).”
It mentioned that a notification issued by the Department of Art and Culture on November 26, 2020 declared the abode of Lord Koubru (two hectares approximately) and Lai Pukhri (four hectares approximately) as sacred sites.
Although the Liangmai Naga people have no issues with the setting up of the proposed sacred site, the authorities concerned should invite all primary stakeholders and be taken into confidence before the project is taken up.
However, any attempt to utilise the ecologically sensitive areas for human habitation in the name of creating a religious site and mass destruction of forest will be stopped at any cost, asserted the LNC Eastern Zone.
The LNC Eastern Zone demanded that they should be included in the site selection and made a party of the survey team for temple construction and setting up of religious sites and other infrastructure.
The department concerned should disclose the exact area of land required and the land earmarked should not be utilised for human settlement under any pretext, the memorandum demanded.
It further demanded that declaration of certain sacred sites on Koubru Hill range should not affect the legal status of the land.