MOREH, August 27: The Governor of the State, Ashwani Kumar in his maiden visit to Moreh border town met various community leaders today and promised to deliver a conclusion to the present imbroglios evident at the border town.
The Governor arrived at Moreh this morning and along with community leaders, women organizations, representatives of civil bodies checked the presently stalled construction of the Integrated Check Post.
It may be mentioned that the work of constructing the check posts has been stopped due to a border area dispute.
He also visited the Myanmar Friendship Bridge. He later met various representatives of different organizations and talked with them on the issue of border fencing at Trade Centre.
The civil organizations included All Community Development Organization Moreh, Meitei Council Moreh, Hill Tribal Council, Tamil Sangam, MMCM, Marwari Community, Moreh Border Trade and Commerce, Meitei Women Wing etc. The Governor was also accompanied by Chandel DC, Chitaranjan Singh, ADC of Chandel Robert Kshetrimayum, Secretary to the Governor, Rk Nimai.
Other officials of different departments posted at Chandel and Moreh also were present at the occasion.
The Governor in his address at the Trade Centre stated that he came at the border town to root out the main problems prevalent at the area by interacting with the community leaders. He promised to look into the issue of providing potable water to the public of the area.
It was mentioned that the progress of the railway line from Tupul is currently making good headway and once it reaches the town, then there will be a holistic change with development and employment opportunities.
He also assured the gathering that the imbroglio surrounding the border fencing has been brought to his notice and he assured that whatever rectification needs to be done will be addressed to at the earliest.
The Governor and his better half were presented gifts by the community leaders at the outset of the function. The District Immunization Officer (DIO), Committee on Protection of Land in Border Fencing, Manipur (CPLBF) also submitted memorandums to the Governor. The DIO sought permission to use the Myanmar Road to reach the interior villages of Manipur inclusive of New Somtal and Yangoulen PHSC’s. It stated that the Myanmar authorities have not allowed entry since July 2013 to use the Myanmar road to reach the nearly 40 villages to avail them of NRHM schemes and also for timely immunization.
CPLBF also drew the attention of the Governor in the memorandum which stated that the construction of the fencing at the border should be stopped until a joint survey has been conducted and proper demarcation done. The re-demarcation of the real boundary, Pemberton Line which was resurveyed and demarcated by Colonel James Johnstone in 1881 and later by Maxwell in 1869 followed by the signing of the 1967 Boundary Agreement between Burma and India in Rangoon should be carried out within a month, otherwise the CPLBF will launch agitations.
Speaking at the occasion, President of Meitei Council Moreh, M Thoiba said that there is significant improvement in the law and order scenario, but otherwise there is no real development taking place. He appraised the Governor that due to the border fencing, a lot of land belonging to the Moreh side has been compromised and this needs to be addressed at the earliest, he said.
In similar tone, vice-president of Hill Tribal Council also requested the intervention of the State to solve the border fencing. He also mentioned that the building of the Integrated Check Post should be completed at the earliest.
The Governor with the official entourage arrived at Imphal in the evening.
