IMPHAL, February 23: The Protection of Agricultural Land and Natural Resources Organization (PALANRO) submitted a memorandum to the state chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh with the demand for the implementation of Land Use Policy in the state.
The organisation today took out a rally which was flagged off from the Iboyaima Shanglen for the submission of the memorandum.
The rally was however, stopped in front of the Churachand Higher Secondary School by a huge state commando team. Only a handful were allowed to proceed further upto the CM’s bungalow and submit the memorandum.
The organisation has highlighted six of its demands in the memorandum which include establishment of a separate State Agricultural Statistics Authority (SASA); reactivating Manipur State Level Land Use Board; conduct of land use survey for every season for every year by the Revenue department.
The demands also include the conduct of cadastral survey of the 90 percent of the state area which are hilly and introduction of Transmit Market and a Marketing Policy of the agricultural products of the state.
Addressing a press conference held in this regard, advisor Mutum Churamani said that the government should discuss the memorandum during the 7th session of the 10 Manipur Legislative Assembly which will be held from February 24 to March 3.
He further asserted that Land Use Policy which is important aims at encouraging optimum utilisation of land and water resources.
The government has initiated the implementation of the Food Security Act in the state which is good, but implementing such act where the food grains will be acquired from other states will not help in bettering the economy of the state, rather it will only deprive the people, he said.
Many arable land of the state have already been lost due to the construction of brick farms, schools, and other establishments, said All Manipur United Club Organization (AMUCO), vice president, Ph Deban.
He appealed the government to enact an appropriate Land Act which will bind the selling and buying of land, establishment of schools or any kind of institute at the arable land without the approval of any concerned authorities.
