‘Joint Action Committee against the Construction of Ring Road Connecting Ipum Mapal Road Khurai Konsam Leikai, Imphal East’ urged the state government and authority concerned to save the historic ‘Ipum pat’, a water body, by diverting the path of the road during its construction.
A one-day public meeting was organised at the community hall of Khurai Konsam leikai on Friday in connection with the demand to divert the path of the Ring road from Khurai Konsam leikai in Imphal East where ‘Ipum pat’ is located.
Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Ngangkham Naobi, a JAC member told the media that the people welcome the construction of the ring road; however, the locals inhabited at the surroundings Ipum pat will launch intensified agitations if the said road is going to affect the water body.
As per the present map of the ring road, many properties, including many residential areas will be affected, namely Khurai Konsam Leikai, Khurai Heikru Makhong, Khurai Khomidok and Khurai Laishram leikai.
Naobi further suggested that if the ring road is diverted alongside the area where 7th Manipur Rifles battalion is located, then the structure of the ring road would be more beautiful. He said the government has been taking steps to conserve water bodies related to the history of Manipur. “Then why is the government ignoring this particular issue when the historic water body as well as a huge community pond is at stake? he questioned.
He said the JAC will never hold any compromise to save the water body.
Responding to the media, he said that the local MLA had assured earlier that he will beautify the historic ‘Ipum pat’ so that boat races in the style of traditional boat race could be organised.
Locals will take up an intense stir and even sacrifice their lives if the government forcibly constructs the ring road by affecting ‘Ipum pat’, he added.
