Imphal, July 15: Decrying the decision of the SPF Government to hike the land tariff with an eye to generate more income, Opposition MLA Dr Nimaichand Luwang today said that the measures adopted by the Government will not bear any fruits as the people will be hard pressed to meet the hiked land tax.

Moving a call attention motion in the evening session of the Assembly today, the MLA said that the hike in land tariff was an arbitrary decision and added that it violates the provisions of the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960.Demanding a roll back in the hike of the land tax, Dr Luwang said that according to an official gazette issued on June 12, 2000 for commercial areas measuring .10 acres in the Imphal Municipality areas the land tax has been increased from Rs 322.22 in 1993 to Rs 3443.Likewise for residential areas the land tax for the same size has been increased from Rs 860.80 in 1993 to Rs 2840.In rural areas the residential land tax has increased from Rs 42 in 1993 to Rs 172 which is an increase of 408.55 percent, said the MLA adding that according to the MLR and LR Act the increase in land tax in ten years time should not exceed 25 pc.

Dr Luwang further said that due to economic recession the people will not be in any position to pay the hiked land tax and added that this will defeat the aspirations of the Government to increase its revenue.

Supporting the stand of Dr Luwang FPM MLA L Ibomcha said that if land revenue is to be increased, then the opinion of the public ought to be sought first.

The MLA asked whether the draft gazette was issued and the opinion of the public sought.

He also inquired whether the same was published in the newspaper and if so to name the paper.

Replying to the call attention motion, Revenue Minister E Biramani said that the decision to hike the land tariff was taken during the tenure of the Nipamacha Government.

He said that the decision was taken during two Cabinet meetings.

However the decision was not implemented, he added.

The SPF Ministry also deliberated on the decision to hike the land tariff in a Cabinet meeting on April 25 this year, he informed the House.