ACOAM-Lup urges
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 02 2019:
Lauding the Government for declaring the State as drought affected, yet reasoning that this step came a little too late, All Club Organisation Association and Meira Paibi Lup (ACOAM-Lup) has stated that it is high time for the Government to properly check if all irrigation policies, programmes and projects are indeed working properly.
It also demanded the State Government to draft a proper policy to effectively combat water scarcity in the State in the future.
A statement issued by the assistant IPR secretary of ACOAM Lup lauded the State Government for declaring the State as drought affected.
However, it questioned if the Government's proposal to look for alternative crops is really the solution to this problem or if it there is any time left for this proposal to bear fruit at all.
It the reasoned that the State Government should also take the condition of the people who are planting other crops other than paddy as well as those who do not have their own land but are taking up agriculture as their profession, when it comes to announcing the State as drought affected.
It reasoned that it will be the right step for the Government to provide a white paper about which irrigation projects are functioning or non functional, despite having spending crores of Rupees, to the people.
ACOAM Lup further stressed on the need for drafting a policy which will cover all the farmers, reasoning that only announcing compensation to the farmers during drought or flood will not bring a long lasting solution.
It further explained that the Government should adopt long term policies and plans instead of short term measure as it will only create burden to the farmers and alleged that the current situation faced by the people is mainly due to the lack of a concrete policy or programme regarding irrigation when it comes to agriculture and horticulture in the State.