Imphal, Aug. 10: Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh's plan to lay the foundation stone of the National Sports University after Independence Day has again run into a hurdle after Kuki organisations today gave an ultimatum to the government to settle the "land dispute" at the construction site.

During an inspection of the site in Koutruk in Imphal West on July 30, Biren Singh announced that he had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lay the foundation stone of the sports university after Independence Day and Modi had agreed.

Biren Singh also announced that there was no land dispute.

Kuki organisations, based in Kangpokpi district, however, contradicted the claim by the chief minister saying the land at Haraothel village, which is included in the proposed site of the university, had been forcibly acquired.

Spearheaded by the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), several Kuki organisations called for a "total shutdown" of Kangpokpi district on Tuesday to protest what they termed "encroachment" of Haraothel village by the state government.

The state government acquired 330 square km for the university and Kuki organisations claimed that the site included 137.6 square km belonging to Haraothel, which they claimed falls under Saitu Gamphazol sub-division of Kangpokpi district.

The site is about 18km northwest of Imphal city.

The citizen organisations have set August 13 as the deadline for settling the dispute.

"We have received a response from the government for finding a solution to the land dispute," KSO Sadar Hills president Thangminlen Kipgen said.

The state government reportedly invited the Kuki citizens' organisations of Kangpokpi to hold talks over the "dispute" on August 12.

"If the government fails to find an amicable solution, we will launch an agitation from August 13," the student leader warned.

The Kuki organisations had earlier announced an indefinite shutdown of the district from Friday. However, it extended the deadline for the government to bring a settlement after the government invited them for talks.