IMPHAL, Sep 8 NNN : Opposition political parties in Manipur have demanded to immediately halt the ongoing border fencing work in the Indo-Myanmar border.
Trinamool Congress MLA Dr I Ibohanbi Singh while briefing the media at Moreh Trade Centre said the border should not continue unless the matter is amicably resolved between Myanmar and India.
He also said vast land of wild life sanctuary has been affected due to the faulty fencing work.
It can be noted here that a six-member team of Manipur Opposition visited border villages on Saturday along the Indo-Myanmar border to make an assessment of the international line in Chandel district, neighbouring Myanmar.
The MLA team led by Opposition leader Dr I Ibohalbi arrived in Moreh town in Chandel just before midday. From there they went to Holenphai, Govajang and other border villages to oversee them. The Opposition has claimed that huge portion of Manipur’s border land areas hve been ceded to Myanmar in the border fence construction.
Dr Ibohalbi then asked whether the authorisations have been obtained from the departments of forest, revenue or for that matter, the deputy commissioner of Chandel and other concerned authorities before the fencing began.
MLA Shyamkumar joining the press meet said the security force personnel are doing nothing while the Myanmarese army recently constructed a temporary camp near the disputed Border Pillar number 23.
Meanwhile, sources said the team is likely to submit a report on the visit to the Centre soon and put pressure for addressing the issue.
The Opposition team led by Dr Ibohalbi included MLAs Th Biswajit, M Kunjo, Th Shyamkumar, O Lukhoi and K Sharat. The Indo-Myanmar Border Fencing Committee headed by Principal Secretary (Home) Dr J Suresh Babu had earlier made a spot assessment of the international border fencing in Manipur’s Chandel district on August 26 last.
During the visit the Committee inspected Holenphai and Govajang villages, and Tamil Sangam area located between Moreh Gate No 1 and 2 which have been apparently affected by the Indo-Myanmar Border Fencing.
However, the Principal Secretary (Home) during the trip had claimed that the current Indo-Myanmar Border Fencing was just a “security barrier.”
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/halt-border-fencing-works-trinamul/
