Imphal, September 08, 2010: The Manipur University Tribal Students' Union (MUTSU) today flayed the state government for its "usual delaying tactics" in the completion of formalities in land acquisition and obtaining clearance from the Union ministry of Forest and Environment for setting up the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University-Regional Campus at Makhan village in Senapati district.

For setting up the regional campus of IGNTU, which government agreed to set up at Makhan village, villagers had donated 500 acres (200 hectare) of land close to the village.

But the formality of land acquisition and obtaining clearance from the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment has not been completed even after one year MUTSU alleged, in a statement issued today.

Earlier also, MUTSU had requested the state government several times to complete the process of land acquisition and to obtain necessary clearance from the Centre to begin development of infrastructure and other requirements in the campus.

"Inspite of this the state government is playing its usual delaying tactics by sending piece meal proposals for obtaining clearance from the Central government seeking just 98 acres out of the total required area of 500 acres," the statement signed by its president Pamei Tingenlung lamented.

The tribal people are eagerly waiting to get the benefits of a university for the tribal people, the statement asserted.

Recalling that enough precious time has been wasted at the initial stage in finalizing the campus site now when the required land has been donated, MUTSU expressed concern that the state government is buying time perhaps to defer the project by sending illogical proposals to the ministry concerned to which the Chief Conservator of Forest, NE circle, Shillong who visited for site verification had intimated that piece meal proposals are not advisable as land acquisition cannot be made in a phased manner.

The Indira Gandhi Tribal University- Regional Campus Manipur constituted by an Act of Parliament was established in the yer 2009 as a centre to disseminate advance knowledge by providing instructional and research facilities in tribal art, culture, tradition, language, medicinal system, customs, and forest based economic activities & advancement in technologies relating to the natural resources of the tribals.

It is also aimed at formulating tribal centric models to uplift the tribal people of the state in particular and the tribal population of the Northeastern region in general.

At present IGNTU- Regional Campud is functioning in the Tribal Research Institute Campus, Adimjati, Imphal as a temporary arrangement admist numerous hardships and inconveniences due to congestion and limited space, the statement observed.

Reiterating the need for a speedy progress in the land acquisition process and its completion at the earliest to avoid further delay in setting up the campus, the statement warned the government that if no positive action is taken up, they will be compelled to seek redress of their grievances in the streets for which the state government has to bear the sole responsibility for any untoward incidents.

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