Objection raised
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 15 2015:
A large number of people today staged a protest demonstration at Kakching Lamkhai against the State Government's plan to acquire agricultural land and homesteads forcibly for developing a special economic zone at Kuraopokpi, Kakching.
The protesters raised slogans against the Government's plan to acquire agricultural land and homesteads forcibly in addition to putting up placards which read as "We oppose forced land acquisition", "Save farmers" etc.
Speaking to media persons by the sidelines of the protest demonstration, Lengba Laijing Loukon Committee assistant secretary N Amuyaima said that the protest demonstration was being staged against the notification issued by the Thoubal DC on December 10 last year to take over 700 acres which are presently under paddy cultivation.
Union Commerce and Industries Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during a field visit to the site selected for special economic zone interacted with some local people and sought their opinions.
However, people whose agricultural lands and homesteads would be affected were not allowed to meet the Union Minister, Amuyaima alleged.
Those people who gave their opinion in favour of developing the SEZ at Kuraopokpi have nothing at stake but majority of the local people are opposed to developing SEZ in the selected site at the cost of fertile agricultural land.
Saying that the paddy fields notified for acquisition produce 7000/8000 maunds of rice every season, the committee appealed to the State Government to spare the paddy fields.
The special economic zone should be developed in non-arable areas.
Acquisition of the said agricultural land would reduce people of Kakching to the status of beggars.
People cannot survive on compensation given by Government for years.
In case the State Government does not review its decision to acquire the said agricultural land by March, intense forms of agitation would be launched from the month of April, Amuyaima added.