LOUSAL draws CM attention to save farmlands
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 19 2020:
The Loumee Shinmee Apun Lup (LOUSAL), Manipur has called on the CM to stress on expansion of agricultural land as stated earlier.
LOUSAL, in a statement expressed concern over the Government's alleged attempt to allocate land in Sekmai Assembly Constituency in exchange for Koirengei AirField and notice served by the Army to acquire 1800 acres of land at Keingam area in the last couple of years.
LOUSAL learnt the matter and news about a protest to stop the State Government's land survey team by villagers after a meeting with the Sekmai Kendra Land Protection Committee, it said.
Government's move has extremely saddened the people of the said villagers, it said while adding that if the said portion of the farmland near Leimakhong Army Camp is forcefully acquired, it would affect thousands of farmers.
It would also cut off the irrigation facility for nearly 2000 hectares of farmland which rely on stream from Koubru Range for irrigation will be affected and as such more than 15 thousands of farmers in Sekmai, 10 thousand farmers in Khurkhul, 3000 farmers of Kanto Sabal, Prem Nagar and Dwarka will be affected, it said.
The farmlands in the valley have shrunk to a great extent in the past few decades due to the absence of proper land use policy thereby resulting in a shortage of agricultural produce with each passing year, it continued.
Keeping in view of the likely loss of vast areas of farmland and considering the cause towards achieving a self reliant status on food production, it said while drawing the attention of the State Government to look for another suitable area.
While quoting CM's speech in the media highlighting the need for conservation of farmland and encouragement of farmlands, LOUSAL also urged not to put the lives of thousands at stake to serve the purpose of a handful of people.