Hotel Imphal
Imphal, Jun 17 : An ambitious project by the Okram Ibobi Singh government to develop the state-run Hotel Imphal into a luxurious five-star hotel has hit a strong wall of opposition with a church body stepping in to prevent the government from acquiring land where three churches and a temple exist.
As part of its efforts to promote tourism, the tourism department has undertaken an initiative to convert Hotel Imphal, located at Kabo Leikai in Imphal city, into a five star hotel.
The government decided to acquire the entire 1.5-acre Kabo Leikai, also known as the Naga River Colony, where all communities have resided for over 100 years. The colony, with 50 houses with a population of 500, exists next to the hotel complex.
Angered by the move, the residents prevented officials of the state PWD that came to the colony on June 6 from assessing properties for compensation. The government offered compensation and rehabilitation of the landowners at Khabeisoi, near Sajiwa Jail in Imphal East. However, the landowners are not ready to hand over their land, maintaining that the government offices located next to the hotel should be used.
Residents are on vigil since June 6 by staging a sit-in at the gate of the locality to prevent any government authority from taking away their land.
The issue may snowball into a major controversy with the All Manipur Christian Organisation, the apex body of churches in Manipur, protesting against the move.
“We will not and cannot accept construction of a luxury hotel by removing churches and temples and at the expense of poor lives,” Rev. Prim Vaiphei, president of the organisation, said.
Chairman of the Naga River Colony village authority, K. Golmei, said the government move was “biased”. He said the present 4-acre hotel complex was more than enough. If more land was required, the tourism office and the government oil depot next to the hotel, should be shifted.
“They did not touch the government offices and are only targeting poor residents, thinking that we cannot do anything,” the chairman said.
Official sources said a high-level committee headed by chief secretary D.S. Poonia was constituted recently to put the plan into action and the committee was actively working on the project.
“There is a certain land criteria for a five-star hotel, construction of which is in the interest of all the people and not against any group or community. Hence, the acquisition is a must,” a senior official said.
Sources said the Church organisation was prepared to first meet Governor Gurbachan Jagat seeking his intervention and then move court if the land acquisition process continued.
“The Constitution guarantees protection of religious places,” Vaiphei said.
Residents of the colony are seeking help from citizens’ groups to thwart acquisition of land.
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