A statement issued by secretary of the committee Ngangom Chalamba recalled that on December 23 of 2019, the then Thoubal DC had notified that the rate of the lands of Wangjing is Rs 707 per square foot. However, the then DC’s notification does not include the solatium, it added. It appealed to the authorities concerned to either include solatium in the compensation or to provide the same rate received by the landowners at Athokpam Kiyam Siphai, Thoubal Achouba, Waithou, Usoipokpi etc.

It continued that the landowners cannot accept the current Thoubal DC’s recent notification with the decrease of the rate per square foot of Wangjing lands from Rs 707 to Rs 537. “If the solatium is included in the new rate or Rs 537 per square foot, the regular rate of the lands at Wangjing will be only Rs 268.50 per square foot,” it read.

Condemning the decrease of land value in the recent DC’s notification, the statement added that the increase of property tax should be proportional with the value of the lands. It urged the authorities concerned to take up immediate action regarding the issue, and assured the cooperation of the landowners.