Three pro cranes seized; land owners, workers stage protest
Source: The Sangai Express
Thoubal, February 14 2023:
SDO Thoubal M Ranjita has seized three pro cranes for unlawful excavation of agricultural land from the area between Langathel and Phundrei today.
According to a report from the Reporting Officer of the District Agriculture Office, a team led by SDO Thoubal inspected the site of excavation today.
The team was also accompanied by officials of District Agriculture Office, Thoubal; officials of SDC Khongjom and OC of Khongjom PS.
Addressing media persons, M Ranjita shared that under the Manipur Conservation Of Paddy Land And Wetland Act, 2014, three pro cranes were seized for illegal excavation of agricultural land today.
She assured that further legal action will also follow this seizure.
Meanwhile, field owners, workers and brick field workers staged a protest against prohibition on land excavation at Langathel Keithel today.
Speaking by the sideline of the protest, land owners Abdul Hassan and Moirangthem Khongol alleged that they had obtained permission from the District Agriculture Officer to excavate their agricultural fields.
They further claimed that they wanted to level the uneven field after a crop of paddy had been harvested to plant another batch of vegetables/fruits in their empty fields.
The land owners also opposed the restriction on land excavation allegedly imposed by LOUSAL and added that without this process of excavation, land levelling for agriculture cannot be done adequately.
Further, they appealed for the lifting of this restriction.
Sagolsem Chaoba Devi also shared that her husband and children work in a brick field to earn their livelihood.
She questioned how bricks can continue to be made without adequate earth/soil.
Thus she also appealed to the authorities to lift restriction on excavation of land.