Strongly denouncing the notifications of deputy commissioner Kangpokpi over quarrying, sand/stone mining, stone crushing, etc. in Kangpokpi district, the civil bodies of the district under the aegis of Kuki Inpi submitted their objection to the deputy commissioner on Thursday.
On April 5, DC Kangpokpi, Kengoo Zuringla had issued a notification stating that extensive inspection will be taken up in all areas falling in Kangpokpi district by officers and officials of Revenue, Police, Forest and Commerce, and Industries departments to verify the grant of prospecting license or quarrying concession such as proper grant of approval/authorisation given by the competent authority for operating quarries, sand/stone mining, stone crushers, etc.
The notification cautioned that any defaulting individuals/firms/agencies operating unauthorised or illegal centres of such nature in the district shall be liable to be penalised under relevant sections of the Manipur Minor Mining Concession Rules, 2012.
Subsequently, the DC Kangpokpi had issued another notification the next day on Wednesday, informing the District Task Force, Kangpokpi that a meeting will be held on Thursday at the Conference of DC Kangpokpi office for periodical analysis of inspections taken up at various operating quarries, sand/stone mining, stone crushers, etc. in the district.
Concerning the notification, the civil bodies of the district under the aegis of Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi had an emergency meeting and discussed the matter wherein they unanimously decided to object to the notifications.
In the objection letter, the civil bodies of Kangpokpi stated that for any developmental work for the good of the public and the people at large, all stakeholders should be consulted, and the confidence of the people must be accommodated. It stated that any such developmental discourse should not be taken up in a hasty manner.
It further stated that if the DC Kangpokpi notifications have to be implemented, poor people depending solely on sand quarrying, who earn their minimal wages and live from hand to mouth will be starving due to the unmindful decision of the government.
"The revenue department has no authority within all the hill districts of the state and the hill district of Kangpokpi, Sadar Hills has its own system of land holding while all land-related matters need to consider the knowledge and approval of the village chiefs through the local self government, the Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council, it added.
The civil bodies of Kangpokpi stated that any matter involving land and forest must always be duly handled by the Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council after due consultation with the village chiefs and its (village chiefs) apex body Sadar Hills Chiefs' Association (SAHILCA).
