Imphal, April 26: The State Government's continued effort to set up National Institute of Technology on a Kyamgei paddy field continues to draw flak as All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) and Manipur Agri-Tech Society (MATS) demanded revision/withdrawal of the plan.

Highlighting agricultural activities are mostly confined on lands in the valley districts, AMUCO in a statement opined that the State Government should not act in haste or club development schemes only in the valley.

Besides taking into account inevitability of preserving fertile land/plot for the sake of food security of the Manipuris, the Government needs to expand projects/schemes to the hill areas as well as which can promote egalitarian development and weed out sense of deprivation of the hill people, opined the organisation.

Construing that the NIT plan at Kyamgei is a fallout of short sightedness of a handful of 'men in power', Amuco also took serious note of using police force to curb genuine outcry of the people upon whom the politicians pile up promises only to shun the people when most needed.

Recalling comments of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh during an Assembly session in 2006, the Organisation questioned where the CM had abandoned his commitment of framing a definite policy that envisages protection of agricultural land.

Contrary to the assertion, there is no legislation to check rampant encroaching of fertile agricultural lands by private and Government agencies to establish privately-run educational institutions, fuel/petrol stations, residential complexes etc, pointed out the body.

While stating that many unutilised land still exists in the State, Amuco insisted that there should be no hesitation in taking up such plan in the hill ranges.

It further advised the State authorities to introspect concept of taking up schemes detrimental to interest of the people under the doctrine that any opposition to the Government plan would be crushed with the brute force of security agencies.

Known for its fertility, the Kyamgei Loukol would be lost forever if the Government persists with the plan, said the Organisation and reminded the Government that this particular spot is a source of sustenance for a number of families.

There would hardly be any opposition to purposeful policy and its implementation, suggested the body while advising the Chief Minister to act in sync with the aspiration of the masses rather than working at the behest of his few coterie.

Meanwhile, asking the State Government to withdraw its decision of setting up nIT in Kyamgei Loukol, Manipur Agri-Tech Society pledged support to any movement launched by the JAC.

the Society prevailed upon the State authorities that paddy production in the State is far below the requisite quantity with the people constrained to survive of rice brought from outside.

Under the prevailing situation conceiving non-agricultural plan in agricultural lands is not only smack of logic but is akin to denying upcoming generation source of sustenance, opined the Society.

Out of the total area of 22,327 square kilometres of the State only 1.5 percent could be used for agricultural purposes, it reminded.

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