Geographical features and contiguity district or on Ethnic Based District

Geographical features and contiguity district or on Ethnic Based District

I have traveled to the length and breadth of Manipur, I have visited every nook and corner. What I often pondered on while crossing district boundaries is "This is the reason why the valley and the Hills always bla bla bla".

Coming down from Maphou dam [the end of Imphal East district which is under Saikul division] to Moirangpurel GP, then moving down to Changamdabi and Yambem GPs, further crossing Top Chingtha and Keirao gram panchayats. It sometimes looks so funny that the river and its basin which its breadth is less than a kilometre is being administered under Imphal East District. The Thoubal river is surrounded by Ukhrul and Senapati district hill ranges. Coming down to Ngarian hills. The hills which is under Senapati is again surrounded by the valley which falls under Imphal East district. Those villages which are on the hills have to come to Saikul for official works. On interesting development is that, those villages took part in GP elections of the valley as well as MLA election under Senapati.

Looking with the eyes of a common man, sometime it looks funny and reflects politics of ethno-exclusivity. On the other hand, it also reflects the colonial system of administration to safe-guard the minority under which the plains and hills were administered separately. The legacy of this dual system of administration goes on in the post-independent era which the hill people take it as a protection from assimilation by the major community while the valley dweller consider it as a hindrance to development in various lines.

Imphal East District Map
Source of the map: http://slnaiwmp.cubeten.com/District%20Maps/IMphal%20East.jpg

So, Geographical features and contiguity district or on Ethnic Based District?