Noney: The villagers of Makhuam (Marangjing) and Charoi Pandongba in Manipur’s Noney district lifted on Wednesday the ban on the construction work of the NF Railway, which had been suspended since December 2022.
The construction was halted for nearly two years due to the alleged failure to release compensation for the extensive damage and loss of public property caused by a “manmade” landslide that occurred on the night of July 29, 2022.
The decision to lift the ban followed a meeting between the villagers and Dipu Gangmei, Chairman of the Hill Area Committee. Senior officials from NF Railway in Imphal also attended the meeting.
An MoU was signed between NF Railway officials, Noney District Administration, and leaders of Makhuam (Marangjing) and Charoi Pandongba villages to release compensation for the affected families in connection with the loss of public property caused by the landslide.
Gangmei, a retired IAS officer and current MLA of the Nungba Assembly Constituency, expressed his condolences to the families impacted by the devastating landslide at Makhuam Railway Substation, which claimed several lives and injured many, including members of the Railway Protection Force, villagers, railway construction workers, and officers.
During the meeting, Gangmei stressed the importance of cooperation between civil society organizations (CSOs), villagers, and NF Railway to ensure the timely delivery of essential commodities amid the ongoing unrest in the state.
