Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) spokesperson Hareshwar Goswami said he had written to the President of India drawing the latter’s attention to settle the India-Myanmar boundary dispute after conducting proper demarcation. Goswami said he also met Manipur’s governor La Ganesan for the same issue.
Hareshwar Goswami was speaking to the mediapersons during a press conference held at the Manipur Press Club.
“Manipur’s loss means India is losing its territory”, said Goswami referring to the alleged land incursion by Myanmar.
Goswami asserted that the governor of Manipur was apparently misinformed on the border issue. The Governor appreciated the border fencing, in the disputed areas, taking into consideration the drugs trafficking menace, he said.
“The Governor was shocked on learning that the border fencing was done at the expense of Indian land,” said Goswami.
The MPCC spokesperson said he explained to the Governor to re-determined all disputed areas on the India-Myanmar boundary (Manipur sector) with full knowledge and participation of all stakeholders and fix the boundary pillars as described in the survey operation of 1896 at all the disputed areas.
The basis of the boundary agreement signed at Rangoon (now Yangon) on March 10, 1967, between the Indian Government and the government of the Union of Burma (now Myanmar) is the survey operation of 1896, he added.
Goswami said he also explained that there is valid apprehension that Manipur (India) would lose a large tract of land along the India-Myanmar border if the boundary line on the Manipur sector is not properly demarcated. He mentioned that the total geographical area of Manipur is reduced considerably.
The ‘Statistical Handbook of Manipur’ (now Statistical Year Book of Manipur) shows the total area of Manipur as 22, 357 square km in the year 1978. But now, it finds only 22, 327 sq. km. in the yearbook published in the year 2018. The loss may be elsewhere or more or less. But it calls for a thorough verification at the earliest, he said.
