Imphal, Oct 14 (NationPress) Former Chief Minister of Manipur, N. Biren Singh, has called for the reconstruction of Shillong's famed Redlands Buildings, known as Manipur Rajbari, to restore its original glory.

This historic structure, built in the 1940s in Meghalaya's capital, Shillong, served as a residence for Maharaja Bodhachandra Singh, the last king of Manipur.

Last week, the building was demolished to pave the way for a new Manipur Bhavan, intended to be a guest house for the state's government.

In his statement, Singh expressed his sorrow over the complete destruction of the historic Rajbari, highlighting that it could have been repaired instead. He lamented, "This is truly painful because it was a part of our shared history and identity. It is imperative that it be rebuilt to its original state for future generations to understand its significance."

He noted that the current Manipur government, operating under President's Rule, has set up a committee to address this issue. Singh voiced his hope that this initiative would bring about restoration and accountability, stating, "We are losing our sense of ownership and responsibility."

He emphasized the importance of preserving such historical sites, mentioning, "Building something worthwhile takes time, but it can be destroyed in an instant."

During his tenure as Chief Minister, Singh revealed that there was no proper oversight of the historic Redlands Rajbari, which was rented out to a few individuals for maintenance. He recalled that on June 19, 2017, the Deputy Secretary of the General Administration Department (GAD) wrote to the Meghalaya government requesting information regarding the land lease. Follow-up letters were sent on August 31, 2017, and Singh himself had written to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, seeking access to the property.

Additionally, he mentioned that former Deputy Chief Minister Y. Joykumar had urged CM Sangma personally regarding the property.

On February 8, 2021, a letter from the Meghalaya government confirmed the settlement of dues and taxes pertaining to the property.

On July 20, 2021, Singh expressed appreciation to Sangma and renewed his request for a possession certificate. Following collaborative efforts, a 30-year lease was eventually secured.

Singh further stated that the Manipur government’s Planning and Development Authority was tasked with constructing a new guest house adjacent to the old building, a project estimated at around Rs 14.92 crore. The Congress party has criticized the demolition of the historic Manipur Rajbari, labeling it a blatant disregard for the state's heritage.

State Congress President Keisham Meghachandra Singh emphasized that the site holds significant historical, political, and emotional value, being the residence of Maharaja Bodhachandra Singh during the signing of the Manipur Merger Agreement with India in September 1949.

He condemned the demolition, stating it reflects an unforgivable neglect by the so-called 'Double Engine government' at both the Centre and state levels. Singh, an MLA, has called for immediate actions to protect and preserve this site as a heritage monument. The destruction of the Redlands Buildings has sparked widespread outrage from numerous organizations, including the Meitei Heritage Society, historians, and political parties, all of whom view it as an irreparable loss to Manipur's political and cultural legacy.

Meanwhile, Meghalaya Chief Minister Sangma, who heads the National People's Party (NPP), recently visited Imphal to evaluate the ongoing ethnic tensions in Manipur. He categorically denied any involvement from the Meghalaya government in the demolition, asserting that no permission was granted for the act.