Test for Govt of Manipur: Palace Take Over

Ngakpa Mangang *

Sana Konung (Royal Palace) as on 24th June 2013 :: Pix - Bullu Raj

The Government of Manipur decision to take over the Palace of Manipur is reacted sharply by the general public and civil societies. The unilateral decision of the government fails to consider the voice of the experts and the public. The Palace as a cultural institution of Manipur is simply negated with overemphasising on promoting tourism.

The relationship between the King and the Palace should not be disturbed only for the sake of preservation, promotion and tourism. We have seen many Palaces in Indian and aboard where the King stays in the Palace and also open to Tourist. So, it is suggestive that the Government constitute an expert committee to examine the issue with the illustration from India and Southeast Asia.

However the decision of the government has its own merit. Though, the people are sensitive to the issue of Palace take over, it is disheartening to see the deteriorating condition of the Palace and increasing private property within the Palace compound.

As we are aware, the elites of different communities of Manipur who are part of the government are the one occupying the area. They must have bought the land legally but they have failed to acknowledge that the compound is a sacred place and it should be kept as sacred. In-spite of their education and exposure, they disregard the tradition with their money and muscle power viz-a viz state government.

So the recent decision of the state government is praise worthy if we analyse the potential obstruction from within the government. But the Government should not be hasty with the Palace take over.

Test for Government of Manipur:

Now, the State government needs to show their real concern for the Palace by initiating the steps they have decided. However, it is suggestive that the government initiates the steps in phase wise.

Phase one should be the eviction process of the private property within the propose area by giving their compensation. This should not be a big issue as State government is expert in land acquisition and evictions.

The evictions of Loktak Phumdi Dwellers in the name of Laoktak Lake Development, the eviction of Kabaw Leikai in the name of Five Star Hotel are some of the recent illustration of state eviction. This has been done in-spite of the High Court Order.

So the government should plan their own process to clean the areas for the Palace. These initiatives will be appreciated and supported by the people more than anything else as the private property has becomes the exploiter of the Palace compound in the process of building their bungalows.

They feel and acts like a royals of the state of being staying in the Palace compound and the power derived from their political connection.

Public Anger as State Support

It is a fact that public sympathy over the issue of Palace take over is increasing but the issue should not be equated with the private property within the compound. The public pressure over the issue should be channelized by the government to evict the private property, which has hurt the sentiment of many people.

The people in the movement should be very cautious as the private property owner who tries to intrude into the movement with the real motives of saving their property in the name of the Palace.

It will be highly appreciable if they give up the area in the general interest of the public. But the worry is whether the government will execute their plan. This is the test for the Government of Manipur whether their eviction strategy for development works only to common people or to the elites of the state.

Lastly, the government should also handover the Governor bungalow to the public as it is also one of the most important bungalow in the history of Independent Manipur. The Governor should be shifted to appropriate place.