Agri Director faces disciplinary action
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 21 2018:
Chief Minister N Biren today informed the Manipur Legislative Assembly that disciplinary action would be initiated against the Agriculture Director for not informing a matter raised on a Meeyamgi Numit to the Agriculture Minister.
On a Meeyamgi Numit (July 14), the Federation of Farmers Club raised a proposal for waiving off loans indebted to farmers.
After hearing the proposal, the Chief Minister referred the matter to the Imphal West DC who passed on the proposal to the Agriculture Director.
But the Agriculture Director did not share any information about the proposal with the Agriculture Minister.
As he had no information about the matter, Agriculture Minister V Hangkhanlian said that he had no information about the proposal when the same proposal was raised in the State Assembly today in the course of discussing a demand pertaining to Agriculture Department.
Notwithstanding the Agriculture Minister's clarification, Opposition Member Kh Joykisan fired a battery of corollary questions.
Subsequently, House leader and Chief Minister N Biren joined the debate and assured the House that disciplinary action would be initiated against the Agriculture Director after examining how he failed to share the particular information with the Agriculture Minister.
Hangkhanlian said that the department did not take up any initiative to waive off loans as there was no information about any farmer taking loans from bank and Kishan Credit Cards issued to farmers.
Talking about construction of many structures on agricultural lands which has led to drastic shrinkage of agricultural lands, V Hangkhanlian clarified that Agriculture Department alone cannot protect agricultural lands even though the Agricultural Land Protection Act has already been implemented.
Effective protection of agricultural lands demands coordination and support of all line departments, he asserted.
Even though the State's agricultural produces have increased considerably, the rise in productivity has been neutralised by the rising population.
As such, the State's agricultural produces are still not enough to meet the State's requirements.
Agricultural productivity was severely affected as the State witnessed floods five times last year.
The Government spent Rs 3 crore and distributed paddy seeds and transplants to farmers affected by floods, Hangkhanlian said.
He said that the department would take up necessary processes for distribution of Rabi crop seeds through MLAs.