Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Imphal: Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has raised concerns regarding significant discrepancies in village expansion across the state's hill districts. Using an infographic to compare statistics from 1972 and 2023, Singh highlighted what he describes as an anomaly in the growth patterns within Kangpokpi, Churachandpur, Senapati, and Ukhrul.
The data shows that the total number of villages across these four districts rose from 754 to 1,865 over the five-decade period. Kangpokpi saw its count climb from 193 to 713, while Churachandpur grew from 339 to 874. Together, these two districts account for nearly 95% of the total increase. In comparison, Senapati and Ukhrul experienced much smaller growth.
While the figures do not specify the underlying causes, the infographic suggests several potential contributors. These include administrative changes, the formal recognition of existing settlements, demographic shifts, migration, and new governance processes. Singh stated, "The anomaly is not a matter of opinion; it is visible in the data."
The former Chief Minister is calling for a thorough investigation involving census data, land revenue records, satellite imagery, and historical maps. He believes this scrutiny is essential for future discussions on land governance and development planning. These claims emerge during a period of ongoing sensitivity in Manipur regarding administrative boundaries and demographic change.
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