JOWAI: The people of Narpuh Elaka through the Dolloi Manbha kyndoh submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma during his maiden visit to Umkiang to attend the Parents’ Day celebration at Holy Cross Higher Secondary School Umkiang on Thursday.
The people of the Elaka in its memorandum demanded the creation of a new Community and Rural Development (C&RD) Block and setting up of a Land Custom Station at Umkiang village.
“Umkiang being a bordering village – with Assam as a neighbouring state and Bangladesh as a neighbouring country, the setting up of a Land Custom Station here will surely bring overall development to the people inhabited in the border areas both socially and economically”, the Dolloi stated in the memorandum.
The Narpuh Elaka has also demanded creation of a new C&RD Block within Narpuh Elaka.
In a memorandum, the Elaka Chief informed that almost the enitire Narpuh Elaka consisting more than 33 villages beside 7 villages under rymbai Elaka are situated very close the International border with Bangladesh and they fall under Khliehriat C&RD Block.
“The people of this area mostly depend on cultivation such as paddy, bettlenuts, bettle leaves and jhum cultivation for their livelihood and most of them were classed under BPL family. Therefore, they could not afford to travel all the way to Khliehriat for any office work to meet the Block development officer and his staff at Khliehriat for their needs and official works”, the Dolloi stated adding that the people are also facing communication problem.
He also informed that traveling to Khliehriat from this area has badly affected the people particularly farmers in terms of both time and money.
The Dolloi felt that if the Block development Office was setup in this area it would be a blessing to the people as they would surely save their money and their precious time.
The Dolloi requested the Chief Minster to take note of their demands for the sake of the people of the Elaka.
Meanwhile, the Dorbar Shnong of Umkiang village also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister on the dilapidated road condition of the National Highway NH 44 and also for creation of the C&RD Block at Umkiang Village.
More than 23 surrounding villages of Umkiang resorted to agitations during the month of April- May last but due to prompt action from the District Admistration in which several dialogues were held with the PWD official who promised to immediately repair the road but till date, the PWD failed to comply with their promise, the Rangbah Shnong stated.