Dear fellow Meeteis, citizens of Manipur and well wishers.

We the Meeteis have been celebrating Cheiraoba for centuries, welcoming our own version of the New Year. How eagerly we look forward to each New Year by cleaning and decorating our houses, purifying ourselves of all bad omens and evils of previous years, preparing festive dishes and praying with our humble offerings to our Deities for a prosperous year.

It is indeed such a pleasing experience to see our own people flocking as pilgrims at Cheiraoching and Kairang Khong (Chingmeirong Maning Lampak - the site for capitol project), where Khuman Ema resides hoping that it will enable us to raise to greater heights in our worldly life.

How can we the Meeteis forget our responsibility to protect the sanctity of Cheiraoba and Cheiraoching?

As the hype generated by the much-publicized multi-crore Capitol project turns into reality, the common public are gradually realizing the grievous impact it will have on the traditional beliefs, customs and celebration of "Shajibu Cheiraoba".

Can we imagine the devastation of hundreds of years of Meetei heritage, culture and civilisation that every Cheiraoba has been associated, to be replaced by the 300 crore concrete buildings.

Can we imagine a Meetei society without Chieraoba or a Cheiraoba without Cheiraoching and Khuman Ema of Kairang Khong?

It is unfortunate that such an immensely important Capitol Project has to be chosen at such a sacred place of the Meeteis.

Looking at the way the capitol project has been implemented from environmental to technical and sentimental views; the project always seems to be associated with many controversies, reservations and protests from various sections of population of Manipur.

We can see right in front of our eyes, the irregularities in environmental clearance and how the project has tormented many people whose lives have centered on this sacred place. Houses are flooded, the scenic beauty polluted, inhabitant's lungs are flooded with dust. Many humble souls have been corrupted by the hope of earning square meals through the thika work of the capitol project.

Many are questioning the authorities and the bureaucrats who have ignored and sidelined all the sentiments and indigenous beliefs of the people not only around Cheiraoching but also throughout Manipur?

Bureaucrats and Ministers should not be surprised when speculation regarding the motive behind the construction seriously doubts the knowledge and attachment of the decision makers to the traditional beliefs and culture of Manipur. It not only shows the lack of genuine concerns for the common people but also the gross lack of respect for the traditions which have been nurtured for thousands of years.

It is even harder to believe, as all the decision makers are our own people who had lived their lives celebrating Cheiraoba.

The lack of planning is all the more exposed by the fact that even before the start of the construction of the mega project, doubts about congestion have already arisen forcing the concerned authorities to start searching for a place to relocate some of the buildings.

We are not against development of our land but the utter lack of sensitivity and respect for our traditions and customs as shown by such misplaced projects, which are hurting the sentiments of the common people and threatening the indegeniousity of our civilization.

The project has also exposed the amount of desperation among the common people in the struggle for survival that so many of us despite believing in the duty to protect the sanctity of Cheiraoching, have begun to look at the project in the belief it will help feed starving mouths.

Meeteis, let us all realize the duties of being a Leibakmachas and make our efforts and sincere request to all concerned, to reconsider the decision of the ruling Government which has made Capitol project into an anti-Meetei, anti-Cheiraoba, anti-civilisation which is all set to erode the "beautiful Sacred Cheiraoching".

Can we imagine a majestic Gate leading to Cheiraoching with orchids blooming across the lush hill?

Can we imagine Lovely tharos and thambal on the lovely waters of Maning Lampak serving as the sanctuary for the many smoke filled lungs of Imphal Machas?

Can Cheiraoching once again remind us all that this is the land where the Gods took to dancing?

We sincerely hope that the authorities concerned with the project will make every Manipuri proud by respecting the sentiments of the masses, by developing the capitol project on an alternative less detrimental and more appropriate site, and taking modernization to another higher level by converting Cheiraoching and Kairang Khong to a "traditional heritage site"