Agricultural land protection
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 02 2011:
After a mass rally was taken out in all the four valley districts from February 4 to 12, Loumee Shinmee Apunba Lup, Manipur (LOUSAL) is all set to organise a series of street corner meetings in Imphal and its surrounding areas starting from tomorrow till March 6 to take forward the message of protecting the available agricultural land in Manipur.
Announcing this during a press conference at Manipur Press Club here this afternoon, LOUSAL spokesperson Thoudam Jilangamba pointed out that in accordance to the report of Agriculture Department, the available agricultural land in Manipur today is 1,95,000 paris.
But the truth is that available agricultural land has been fast shrinking with construction of schools and industries as well as developmental projects of the Government like expansion of airport, railway line construction, etc.
Shrinking of available agricultural land should be a major concern in the light of ever increasing population.
Unfortunately, the Government has not taken up any effort to protect the agricultural land from being misused.
So, there is the need for public awareness and collective understanding on the issue, Jilangamba said.
LOUSAL president L Ranjit explained that the street corner meetings are to be organised starting from tomorrow to ring out the message to protect agricultural land and natural resources and to take over Loktak Project.
On the last day of the campaign on March 6, LOUSAL has also convened a joint meeting with the representatives of all the civil organisations and farmers' bodies at Sangeet Natya Maha Vidyalaya, Takhel Leikai at 11 am to discuss the issue and take a resolute stand on protection of agricultural land, Ranjit informed.