He requested Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to personally intervene and ensure protection of the airfield in the larger interest of Manipur and the nation
KRC TIMES Manipur Bureau
Imphal: A former Chief Minister of Manipur has urged Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to step in and stop ongoing construction at the historic Koirengei airfield, calling it a priceless World War II site that must be preserved.
In a public statement, the former Chief Minister said that between 2017 and 2025, during his tenure, he had written several times to successive Defence Ministers seeking protection of the airfield. He said the site is one of the key Allied airfields from World War II and holds deep historical value for the state and the country.
He also said that several rounds of discussions had taken place between officials of the Ministry of Defence and the Manipur government over the years. Despite this, he expressed pain that destruction and new construction activities are continuing at the site.
“It pains me deeply to see destruction and new construction continuing despite years of appeals and discussions,” he said, adding that the situation has created uneasiness among local civilians.
The former Chief Minister pointed out that more than 300 acres of land have already been donated to the Assam Rifles and are currently occupied by IGAR South. He further said that over 100 acres have been given to the Border Security Force, and these areas are located close to the Koirengei airfield.
In his appeal, he requested Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to personally intervene and ensure protection of the airfield in the larger interest of Manipur and the nation.
The issue has once again brought focus on the balance between national security infrastructure and preservation of historical heritage in the state.
