Mapping of unauthorised commercialisation in residential areas A major source for revenue in Manipur
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Brigadier (Retired) L Ibotombi Singh
Over the last four decades, like any other town in India, rapid urbanization has taken place in Imphal and its surrounding areas. One of the major factors for the increase in pace of urbanisation is due to influx of people from rural areas to Imphal and its surrounding areas seeking security, better job opportunities, education, commercial activities and lifestyle. Along with the urbanization, there has been abusive commercialisation of residential areas in Imphal and its surroundings in violations of laid down rules, regulations and norms, with the Imphal Municipal Corporation turning a blind eye to them. Blatant, unregulated commercialisation has destroyed the peace and orderly life of residential areas across the city, besides traffic congestions. Another major concern is in Imphal valley and its suburb, substantial areas of agriculture land has been converted as residential areas without seeking approval from the Land Revenue Department and other authorities, thereby shrinking already scarce cultivable land.
In 2023-24, Manipur imported approximately 2.2 lakh metric ton of rice from outside, as own production of clean rice amounting to 5.69 lakh metric ton was insufficient. This figure does not include clean rice imported and sold by various traders and retailers in the open market.
Many small unit shops (Dukan), eating places (hotels), automobile repair workshops, houses for rental, commercial institutions like coaching centres, private schools, health clinics, godowns, nursing homes, restaurants, insurance offices, banks, and beauty salons etc. have mushroomed with full immunity in the last two decades in Imphal Valley, District and Other Towns in Manipur without valid licenses showing utter disregard to laid down rules and regulations. In the last five years or so, there have been exponential explosions of commercial units of various kinds along the IVR, inter sub divisional/ district roads and State Highways. It is interesting to notice that in some localities (Leikais), the number of so called Dukan (small commercial shops) and other commercial units are more than the number of families residing in such localities. Some of these residents whose houses are along the above roads, believe that it is their birth right to use their residential areas for commercial purposes without valid permission.
Mapping of these units used for commercial purposes will reveal that majority of them are without registrations and without valid licences. The only time registrations are carried out by some, are at the time of seeking bank loan, but that too without paying taxes annually. Some of these inter/intra Lekai roads are as narrow as eight feet, even not possible for two vehicles to pass by, thus establishment of commercial units in such places is disturbing the flow of traffic. Citizens have long argued that they are not against the small units in the ‘leikais’, but as per necessity, may be 10-15 percent, and with valid permission from the concerned authorities. But, as the authorities are in deep slumber, combined with indifferent attitudes by the local clubs and ‘meira paibis’ illegal rampant commercialisation in residential areas continue exponentially.
How has the authorities permitted to construct hospitals and training institutes astride IVR having merely 8-9 feet where two small cars cannot pass by from opposite directions. Equally of concern is hospitals, malls and mega markets coming up in Imphal and suburb areas without parking facilities. It is ridiculous to see some commercial shops with high plinths are constructed over the IVR drains, and some with ramps extending upto the centre of IVR, thereby width of already narrow IVR gets further reduced and causing traffic nuisance. Such excessive abusive encroachments towards the drainage system have led to flash floods during monsoon season, which Manipur has witnessed in the last two years. In fact, we are cutting our own feet as floods are more man-made than climate change which most of us are trying to palm off.
Combined with unchecked encroachments, there are many gates and doors of such commercial units with gate leaf and door panel opening towards the IVR thereby disturbing traffic movement. Unfortu- nately, the enforcement agencies/ authorities are turning a blind eye towards abusive encroachment and violation of law by such people.
(To be contd)
Over the last four decades, like any other town in India, rapid urbanization has taken place in Imphal and its surrounding areas. One of the major factors for the increase in pace of urbanisation is due to influx of people from rural areas to Imphal and its surrounding areas seeking security, better job opportunities, education, commercial activities and lifestyle. Along with the urbanization, there has been abusive commercialisation of residential areas in Imphal and its surroundings in violations of laid down rules, regulations and norms, with the Imphal Municipal Corporation turning a blind eye to them. Blatant, unregulated commercialisation has destroyed the peace and orderly life of residential areas across the city, besides traffic congestions. Another major concern is in Imphal valley and its suburb, substantial areas of agriculture land has been converted as residential areas without seeking approval from the Land Revenue Department and other authorities, thereby shrinking already scarce cultivable land.
In 2023-24, Manipur imported approximately 2.2 lakh metric ton of rice from outside, as own production of clean rice amounting to 5.69 lakh metric ton was insufficient. This figure does not include clean rice imported and sold by various traders and retailers in the open market.
Many small unit shops (Dukan), eating places (hotels), automobile repair workshops, houses for rental, commercial institutions like coaching centres, private schools, health clinics, godowns, nursing homes, restaurants, insurance offices, banks, and beauty salons etc. have mushroomed with full immunity in the last two decades in Imphal Valley, District and Other Towns in Manipur without valid licenses showing utter disregard to laid down rules and regulations. In the last five years or so, there have been exponential explosions of commercial units of various kinds along the IVR, inter sub divisional/ district roads and State Highways. It is interesting to notice that in some localities (Leikais), the number of so called Dukan (small commercial shops) and other commercial units are more than the number of families residing in such localities. Some of these residents whose houses are along the above roads, believe that it is their birth right to use their residential areas for commercial purposes without valid permission.
Mapping of these units used for commercial purposes will reveal that majority of them are without registrations and without valid licences. The only time registrations are carried out by some, are at the time of seeking bank loan, but that too without paying taxes annually. Some of these inter/intra Lekai roads are as narrow as eight feet, even not possible for two vehicles to pass by, thus establishment of commercial units in such places is disturbing the flow of traffic. Citizens have long argued that they are not against the small units in the ‘leikais’, but as per necessity, may be 10-15 percent, and with valid permission from the concerned authorities. But, as the authorities are in deep slumber, combined with indifferent attitudes by the local clubs and ‘meira paibis’ illegal rampant commercialisation in residential areas continue exponentially.
How has the authorities permitted to construct hospitals and training institutes astride IVR having merely 8-9 feet where two small cars cannot pass by from opposite directions. Equally of concern is hospitals, malls and mega markets coming up in Imphal and suburb areas without parking facilities. It is ridiculous to see some commercial shops with high plinths are constructed over the IVR drains, and some with ramps extending upto the centre of IVR, thereby width of already narrow IVR gets further reduced and causing traffic nuisance. Such excessive abusive encroachments towards the drainage system have led to flash floods during monsoon season, which Manipur has witnessed in the last two years. In fact, we are cutting our own feet as floods are more man-made than climate change which most of us are trying to palm off.
Combined with unchecked encroachments, there are many gates and doors of such commercial units with gate leaf and door panel opening towards the IVR thereby disturbing traffic movement. Unfortu- nately, the enforcement agencies/ authorities are turning a blind eye towards abusive encroachment and violation of law by such people.
(To be contd)