Farmers urge to allow buyback of farmland
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 24 2023: Yaithibi Loukon Farmers' and Land Owners' Development Association has appealed to the state government to allow them to buy back the vast area of agricultural land, which was acquired by the state government for setting up National Sports University, so that the prime farmland could be saved.

In a statement, the association recounted that the agricultural land was acquired by the government in 2014-15 by providing compensation at the rate of Rs 3 lakh per 'sangam' for establishing National Sports University.

At that time, the government had assured of developing a model village for the affected land owners with provision of land plot measuring 0.20 acres and one government job to every family.

However, the university was relocated to Koutruk in 2017 and since then, the farmers have been urging the government to allow the previous land owners to buyback the land by refunding the compensation amount.

Amid such appeal, the state government allotted 51.11 acres of land to the industry department for development of a Mega Food Park and compound fencing work is being taken up.

Con-, sequently, the association made repeated appeals to the government through a series of memorandums submitted for returning the remaining 285.82 acres of land to the previous land owners.

However, there is a report of the MAHUD Department planning a new township called 'Gateway' in the remaining area.

Though the proposed project could be crucial for bringing development in the state, developing such infrastructure at the cost of fertile agricultural land is uncalled for, the Association said while urging the government to look for some infertile land for developing the proposed township.

The Association also drew attention of the chief minister to look into their demand and save the agricultural land by allowing the previous land owners to buyback the land from the government.

Comment