Imphal, April 16: To highlight the cultural and symbolic relationship of Manipuri people and Cheiraoching, Citizens� Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD) conducted campaign cum protest at Cheiraoching on Cheiraoba day on April 9 as well as on April 14.The protest campaign include putting up banner, distribution of leaflets and poster to voice concern and objections to the arbitrary and unsustainable process of introducing development in Manipur, characterised by failure to regard the sustainable and unique and intricate relationship and interdependency of human and surrounding nature and the trend of wanton destruction of cultural and historically significant sites in the guise of development.

Cheiraoching is a primary cultural heritage site for the people of Manipur specially the Meeteis.

On the day of Cheiraoba, the people after a grand festive lunch conglomerate for worship and rejoice.

Cheiraoba began at the time of King Kiyamba in 14 Century.

Any attempt to take over the 27.70 acres of this hill would mean desecrating the sacred site, co-chairperson of CCDD Aram Pamei stated in the release today.

The protest campaign specifically raised objection to the wanton destruction inflicted on the ancestral cultural and historical site, Cheiraoching for the construction of a Capitol complex.

The hill, adjacent to the Kairang Khong and measuring 11.22 Ha (27.70 acre) is considered by the State Government for inclusion in the project area primarily for security reason.

The excavation of earth from it with more than 100 trucks and earthmovers for filling up and destruction of another significant cultural landmark, the Kairang Khong wetland tool place in November 2004 constitute disregard and flouting of human safeguards and environmental sustainability project failed to adhere to established norms, Pamei asserted.

The Cheiraoching is a reserved forest area and any use of it has to be preceded by a de reservation notice involving consent of the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court and the absence of de-reservation notification in case of Cheiraoching is a flagrant violation of the SC ruling.

The Cheiraoching is a place of historical and archeological importance as a recent excavation at the said hillock unearthed past human artifacts that can shed historical insights and findings include gold masks, bracelets and other numerous relics.

CCDD reiterated that a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) based on data gathered over a period of at least one year highlighting likely impact of the project on the ecology, human and wildlife population at the site, required under the Environmental Protection Act, 1986 and its amendments of 1994 is still absent for Capitol Complex.

Environment Management Plan (EMP) for formulating, implementing and monitoring environmental protection measures during and after the project commissioning and a Rehabilitation and Resettlement Plan for people to be affected by the project are also absent.

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