Land of Jewels (Sana Leibak)

Unofficial ‘public hearing’ opposes NIT at Langol: Imphal, Dec 19: An unofficial ‘public hearing’ on the controversial issue of setting up the proposed National Institute of Technology, NIT, at Langol was conducted in Imphal on Wednesday by an independent non-government fact finding team of rights activists from New Delhi, led by Dr. John Dayal, member of National Integration Council. The ‘public hearing’, organised by the JAC for Protection of Residential, Agricultural and Wetlands, Langol-Lamphelpat and held at Shija Hospital junction, Langol, was attended by some 200 to 300 people, mostly those who would be affected if the NIT project goes ahead. Speaking to the gathering, Dr Dayal expressed regret at the imposition of prohibitory orders in Imphal West district by the district administration ahead of the public hearing. Under the Constitutional guarantee given by Article 19(i)(a) safeguarding the freedom of expression, people have a right to peacefully express their opinions and lis...

JAC warns state govt. over NIT site: Imphal, Dec 14: The JAC for Protection of Residential, Agricultural and Wetlands in Langol-Lamphelpat has cautioned the State Government against igniting a Nandigram like situation in Langol-Lamphelpat by its adamant move to set up the National Institute of Technology (NIT) there. Addressing a press conference at Manipur Press Club here on Friday, chairperson of the JAC and former MP Kim Gangte said what is happening in Nandigram, West Bengal is known to all the people now and the possibility of a similar violent situation cannot be ruled out if the State Government is adamant on its stand of setting up NIT at Langol area . To highlight this point, three delegates of the JAC had recently gone to Delhi to met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, PMO Minister Prithiviraj Chauhan, HRD Minister Arjun Singh, MP Renuka Chaudhury, CPI National general secretary AB Bhardhan and other Central leaders, Kim Gangte said. Apart from submitting the memorandum of the JAC...