The joint press statement signed by Emboi Serto, president ATSUM and Paotinthang Lupheng, president KSO General Headquarters pointed out that the said portion of land is a small tree garden which contains memorial stones erected in memory of the people who had settled in the area during 1950 to 1993.
The garden was first developed by an old man named Patong, who died last year. It has been in existence for the past 20 years, continued the statement adding that the garden is filled with trees some of which are more than 20 years of age. The trees with its creepers, vines and foliage give respite to weary people from the hot summer sun.
It also said that the place is used for prayer or religious activities by the people of Haokip Veng adding that the place is as important as a ‘Laipham’ of the valley people as it is to Christians.
Narrating the brief account of the place, the joint statement said that the place was developed over a period of nearly 20 years by an old PHED employee with fund from his own salaries. He had planted the trees and took care of the garden till his last breath. The trees have now grown tall with rich foliage during the past 15 to 20 years. This prayer garden is his legacy to the people of Haokip Veng.
Since the portion of land is as high as the road and as wide, construction of retaining wall would be unnecessary. If it is a question of breaching by flood waters, then there is zero threat. In all history of settlement in the area, there has not been a single incident of breaching by flood water or river havoc. Even if it is a question of road expansion, the road alongside this stretch of garden is the widest and do not need expansion.
The two student bodies also found the construction work unnecessary as the embankment was wide and strong enough to hold back flood waters. The presence of trees also reinforced the strength of the embankment which serves as a road.
Many a time the student bodies had appealed to the authority to exclude the place from the construction work. If the plan is being undertaken at the behest of the Chief Minister, this is most unfortunate, added the statement.
The government has stated that all the trees growing along the river bank were uprooted by the government under an act. However, if that is the case, the government is also under obligation to uproot all the trees growing along the river bank at Mahabali temple and the settlement near Thumbuthong, said the statement.
If the government is hell bent on destroying the garden, it must also dismantle the temple at Mahabali, and evict the settlements near Thumbuthong which are all situated along the river bank. If not, the tribal people would consider this action of the govt as discriminatory.
"Therefore, it is our appeal that the small portion of land be left out in the ongoing construction work as retaining wall for this section of the road is unnecessary. If the government destroys this garden then we would be compelled to create an issue out of it," warned ATSUM and KSO Ghqs.
Source: The Sangai Express
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