"Land conservation Act will safeguard agricultural land"
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, July 30 2016 : The enforcement of the Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land & Wetland Act, 2014 from September 10, 2014 will give a boost to the efforts to conserve the fast shrinking agricultural land, asserted K Radhakumar, Commissioner Revenue, Government of Manipur while interacting with media persons today at the 43rd press conference organised by DIPR at its office premises, Moirangkhom.

This is so because as per the provisions of the Act, the onus is on the government officials, including the SDCs and agriculture officers of the concerned area to see to it that agricultural land is not converted or reclaimed for other purposes, including conversion into homesteads or using it for business or commercial purposes, he elaborated.

Under section 18 of the Act, the officials can be jailed up to 5 years and fined upto Rs two lakh for failure to safeguard agricultural land.

There are exemptions under Section 9 if the land is reclaimed for public good, as for example for widening of roads, laying of railway track, expansion of airports etc.

Also farmers who own some agricultural lands but do not have homesteads can convert it to the later if it is proven that they own no homesteads.

Revenue Department officials addressing the press conference

One of the most significant and game changing project taken up by the Revenue department is the computerisation of land records under National Land Records Modernization Programme (NLRMP) .

It has completed 83.94% of data entry work and up to 43.72% in terms of computerization of land records in respect of the four valley districts.

The NLRMP has been replaced by the Digital India Land Records Modernization programme which is being monitored directly by the Prime Minister's Office.

Under the Computerization of Registration Documents, offices of seven Sub-Registrars comprising of Imphal West (HQ), Imphal East, Porompat, Jiribam, Bishnupur, Moirang, Thoubal and Kakching have been covered.

The cadastral maps in respect of the four valley districts have also digitized through Manipur Remote Sensing Application Centre (MARSAC) .

As the existing mode of survey which uses cadastral survey technique has become obsolete and cumbersome as it involves use of outdated instruments, Revenue Department, has initiated a pilot project of Satellite Survey using Total Station, GNSS with continuously operating reference station backed by relevant land information system software.

The new technology will enable preparation of highly accurate maps and digital records which will integrate all the elements of land record keeping like record of rights, classification, land ownership, land used pattern and land taxation.

To prevent under valuation of land one of the major causes of revenue losses to the state exchequer for the government of Manipur, the Revenue Department, Government of Manipur has introduced the Minimum Guidance Value (MGV) of land with effect from April 1, 2002, Radhakumar stated.

Under the MGV, different rates or values are fixed for different classifications of land all over the State.

One of the important activity of the Revenue department is acquisition of land for public purpose i.e.construction of railway lines, roads, bridges, multi-purpose projects, etc.

under the provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.So far, under this Act a total area of 15.9672 hectares in Senapati district and 142.7474 hectares in Imphal West district have been acquired for new broad gauge railway line from Tupul to Imphal.

Acquisition of 55.4795 hectares in Tamenglong District is under process as a part of Tupul to Imphal railway line.

Under the new Land Acquisition Act, 2013, acquisition proceedings for about 19 projects are still going on at different stages.

During the year 2015-16, Revenue Department, Manipur had collected a total revenue of Rs.80,90,355/- (Rupees eighty lakhs ninety thousand three hundred and fifty-five) as land revenue and hill house tax.

During the same year, revenue collected from the sale of stamps and registration fees was Rs.986.47 lakhs.

Somorjit Salam, Director Settlement & Land Records, Y Rajen Singh, Deputy Secretary Revenue and H Balkrisna Singh, Under Secretary, Revenue also attended the press meet.