Imphal, November 22 (NNN): The issue of the delimitation of Manipur Assembly constituencies is going to simmer more in the days to come with the formation of the Joint Action Committee, Manipur Hills on Delimitation of Assembly Constituencies (JAC-MHODAC).

In a fax message sent to the Chairman of the Delimitation Commission of India (DCI), the JAC mentioned the full materials as to why the tribal people living in the districts of Manipur have to oppose the decision of the Manipur cabinet and the all political parties� decision to maintain the status quo on the issue.

The copy of the fax message sent to Justice Kuldip Singh who is the chairman of the Delimitation Commission of India which was made available to Newmai News Network today urged the chairman to take up necessary action on the delimitation of Manipur Assembly constituencies on the basis of 2001 census.

It stated that the total area of Manipur State is 22,324 square kilometres with a total number of Assembly constituencies is 60 or 60 MLAs.

And that,of the total area the hill districts cover 20,086 square kilometres with 20 MLAs to take care of it while the valley area covers only a fraction 2238 square kilometres but it has 40 MLAs to look after it.

Further minuting the statistical picture the JAC-MHODAC said that the valley area has one MLA for every 55.38 sq.km where as an MLA in the hill areas has to represent 1004.6 sq.km - a difference of 949 sq.km.

The message also stated that �as per the 2001 census,the approved total population of Manipur is 22,93041 and that as per the norms, each out of 60 assembly constituencies should be delimited to 38,000 population both in the valley and the hill areas through the ongoing delimitation process in respect of Manipur state�.

The message lamented that the decision of the SPF government of Manipur to maintain the status quo of the existing constituencies and not effecting the ongoing delimitation process in Manipur is simply a deprivation of the rights of the people of the hill districts.

�If the status quo of dating 35 years back is maintained in Manipur assembly constituencies then the ratio would be 34,000:1 MLA in the valley districts while in the hill districts the ratio should be at 48,000:1 MLA�, asserted the JAC-MHODAC, adding, �this decision of the SPF government leads to deprivation of the rights of 2,80,000 souls of the hill people�.

The JAC-MHODAC then alleged in the message that the SPF government had decided to merge some of the population Thoubal district to the Inner Constituency which is at present in the Outer Constituency while approving to maintain the status quo of the existing assembly constituencies.

�Such decision of the SPF government is an act of injustice to the tribal people and also an ulterior motive�, alleged the JAC.

It also charged that the all political parties decision was a biased one with one community siding.

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