Dropping Kangpokpi Bypass protested

Our Correspondent
KANGPOKPI, Feb 10 : People of Kangpokpi under the aegis of Joint Action Committee against dropping of Kangpokpi Bypass formed yesterday during a joint emergency meeting staged a mass protest rally at Kangpokpi DHQs today.
The agitating locals also stormed the office of the DC and stopped him at the main entry gate of the Office. The locals poured out their anger for signing the MoU with the JAC against the proposed Diversion of Kangpokpi Bypass and demanded the DC to declare the MoU null and void.
The JAC also submitted a memorandum to the DC.
During the protest rally all business establishments were closed. However, no bandh has been enforced as of now.
Hundreds of people congregated at Kangpokpi DHQs this morning to demonstrate their anger and strong opposition over the sudden dropping of Kangpokpi Bypass by the NHIDCL and the MoU signed between the JAC against the proposed diversion of Kangpokpi Bypass and DC Kangpokpi. Holding a giant banner which read, "Protest rally against dropping of Kangpokpi Bypass" the protesters marched towards the DC office from Kangpokpi bazar and stormed the campus of the DC office and poured out their anger and stopped the Deputy Commissioner for a brief period while he was entering his office.
Later, some of the JAC leaders, CSO leaders, and local leaders went inside the office chamber of DC and held a lengthy discussion but no solution could be arrived at.
The Deputy Commissioner then met the agitating locals and assured that no solution could be arrived in his table since the matter is not in his hands, but assured that he would definitely initiate a joint meeting with the competent authority of NHIDCL, the local MLAs, other officials concerned and the JAC against the dropping of Kangpokpi Bypass, Asian Highway Land Affected Villages Chairmen/Chiefs Association, CSO leaders at the earliest so as to find solution.
Earlier, the JAC against dropping of Kangpokpi Bypass also submitted a memorandum to the DC before the unfruitful meeting with the DC.
The JAC in its memorandum stated that the State of Manipur is inhabited by Meeteis, Kukis and Nagas and all the three communities should live harmoniously and one community should not impede or hinder the interest of others. In brief, one's development should not be at the cost of another. The Asian Highway should be accepted by everyone as a means of communication and a step ahead towards development. It also stated that after obtaining the Government's approval for the Kangpokpi Bypass and after the completion of all sorts of basic works, like pillaring, CNG, etc. the NHIDCL issued a cancellation/dropping intimation to the DC Kangpokpi without any knowledge of the local people on February 8 which hurt the sentiments of the people of Kangpokpi andf it was resolved that the decision to drop Kangpokpi Bypass would be opposed tooth and nail.
It further stated that the people of Kangpokpi diverted the Asian Highway in their locality in accordance with the Asian Highway provision, which provides the town areas with the provision of Bypass. In the same manner, other communities also aligned or diverted the Asian Highway at their own conveniences but the road diversion or alignment should not be communalised as done by some section of the people.
The JAC also pointed out that the actual stretch of the existing highway is more than 8 Km but the Kangpokpi bypass is around 7.5 Km. which will reduce the construction cost of about 0.5 Km. Moreover, the Bypass also reduces sky high rehabilitation and relief cost in the settlement areas. The road construction cannot be completed without a bridge over Gundung (Imphal River) to be constructed either at the northern or southern part of Kangpokpi town.
It also appealed that the injustice meted out to the people of Kangpokpi town should be promptly and timely redressed before the public takes up intense course of action.