Govt to check direct land purchase by SFs
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 18 2018:
Taking serious note of the practice of purchasing land directly from owners by Central security forces for opening additional battalions and camps, the State Government has initiated certain measures to check the same practice.
There is a practice of Central security forces deployed in the State purchasing land directly from owners for opening additional battalions and camps.
Security agencies purchase land from village chiefs and land owners under a mutual agreement between the two parties but there is no practice of sharing information or obtaining prior approval from the State Government, informed a source.
Sometimes, disagreement or dispute between the two parties (Central security agencies and land owners) leads to serious problems which demand the State Government's intervention and these problems were discussed at length at a Cabinet meeting.
The Cabinet meeting held on January 24 this year adopted a decision to monitor the practice of selling and buying land exclusively between land owners and Central security agencies, informed the source.
The Cabinet decision is not about completely prohibiting Central security forces from buying land but they should inform the Deputy Commissioner concerned before buying any land and they should also follow the standard land acquisition process, said the source.
With regard to the Cabinet decision, the State Home Department has already issued an office memorandum.
All Central security forces deployed in the State too have been asked to give prior information to the DC concerned as well as the State Government before buying any land, added the source.