A proposed government project meant to benefit thousands of Manipuris travelling to Silchar has ended without a Manipur Bhavan, while the 24-bigha land once identified for the purpose is now recorded in the name of a sitting Congress MLA, raising serious questions over political accountability and transparency.
An Imphal Times investigation, based on interviews, court records, historical reports, election affidavits and independent inquiries, has found that the Manipur Government’s long-promised Manipur Bhavan never received Cabinet approval, administrative sanction or any formal government order, despite public announcements and repeated political assurances.
Former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh told Imphal Times that his government intended to establish the Manipur Bhavan in 2010. He admitted that no official approval had been obtained and said he had suggested that some ministers accompanying him to Silchar could initially facilitate the purchase of the proposed land through personal financial contributions, with reimbursement to follow after government approval. He named the ministers as Kh. Ratan Kumar Singh, N. Biren Singh, K. Ranjit Singh and N. Loken Singh.
Reports added that the proposed 24-bigha land parcel was reportedly negotiated for Rs. 1.2 crore for the Manipur Bhavan project.
The investigation has also uncovered a striking discrepancy. Court records in Title Suit No. 94 of 2019 show that the property presently stands in the name of Congress MLA K. Meghachandra Singh. His election affidavit states that he purchased the 24-bigha land in 2011 for Rs. 9 lakh. However, Imphal Times found that the property appeared only in his 2022 election affidavit, despite the declared year of acquisition being 2011. The reason for its absence from earlier election disclosures remains unexplained in the public domain.
The apparent gap between the reported negotiated value of Rs. 1.2 crore for the proposed government project and the declared purchase price of Rs. 9 lakh has added another layer of public concern. Whether the figures relate to the same transaction or reflect different circumstances has not been officially clarified.
In November 2014, the All Assam Manipuri Students’ Union (AAMSU) submitted a memorandum urging the Government to begin construction of the Manipur Bhavan, stating that land had already been alloted for the project. Yet, in a telephonic conversation with Imphal Times on August 4, 2026, former AAMSU president Herajit said that, to his knowledge, no land had ever been officially allotted by the Government of Manipur for the proposed Bhavan contradicting his earlier statement published by this newspaper.
Eighteen years after the announcement, Manipur still has no Bhavan in Silchar. The unanswered questions remain: How did a project announced in the public interest disappear? How did the proposed land become private property? And why have successive governments never provided a full public explanation?
