Political Party Committee to recommend declaration of Manipur as Hill State
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, December 08 2014: As reported earlier, the All-Political Party Committee on Inner Line permit (ILP) constituted to look into the collective demand of implementation of ILP system in the State will be submitting its report to the government on December 10 .

Preparation of points included in the 300-page recommendation of the committee was completed on December 4.At present, binding work of the report is going on.

Although the committee is in a position to submit the report tomorrow, it decided to submit it on December 10 instead, as Chief Minister O Ibobi and Deputy CM Gaikhangam will be taking part in Orange Festival to be held in Tamenglong on December 9 .

Sources available to this daily said some of the points included in the recommendation are announcement of Manipur as a Hill State; setting up of a Directorate to monitor the incessant influx of outsiders into the State; restriction of selling land to non-locals and conservation of arable land from degradation.

The total demographic size of the State is 22, 349 sq km.

Out of it, land area occupied by valley is 2, 000 km while the remaining area of 20, 349 km is hills.

When calculated in percentage, 90 percent of the total land area is hills, while the remaining 10 percent is valley.

Therefore, Manipur undoubtedly is a Hill State, the source contended.

There is certain rule under Indian Constitution to safeguard people of Hill State.

Except residents of a particular Hill State, outsiders cannot buy land in the State.

Moreover, the sense of alienation inflicted in the minds of people belonging to hills and valley can be eliminated if the State is announced as a Hill State which in turn will help in jointly protecting territorial integrity of the State.

The sources asserted that there is inevitable constitutional confusion after the demand for implementation of ILPS was put in place in the State.

Apart from requiring final decision of the Central Government, enactment of law in the Parliament is also needed to implement the system.

If Manipur is declared as a Hill State, then the State Government will have the provision to frame State law other than ILPS to monitor the rampant influx of outsiders.

Though assistance of the Central Government will be needed to enact such a law, there will be not much impediments in doing so.

The setting up of a Directorate included in the recommendation of the committee will be under Home Department.

The Directorate will be headed by a Director not less than the rank of IGP (IPS Officer).

Under the proposed new Department, check posts may be erected at Moreh, Jiribam, Mao, Jessami, Imphal and Churachandpur areas bordering Mizoram to prevent influx of non-locals.

If around 100 police personnel are engaged in the department solely to check the infiltration of outsiders, the problem of influx will not arise, the source commented, while adding that these four points of recommendation shall be welcomed by the people of Manipur.

The recommendation will also enclose relevant documents on restriction on purchase of lands by outsiders and sale of lands to no locals, as prevailed under a separate law in Himachal Pradesh.

Suggestion will also be put forward to frame a law to prevent compromise of arable lands for constructing residences and industrial units.

The source also cited that non-locals have begun to purchase and occupy large areas of arable lands.

As the recommendations have been finalized after thorough discussion in the 15-member Political Committee, the need for referring the matter to constitutional experts of Supreme Court has been sidelined, revealed the source.

The recommendation may not be placed in the ensuing Legislative Assembly session, as it would require reconsideration of the government and subsequent referral to the Law Department for comments.

However, the recommendation is believed to be placed for discussion in the State Assembly session for discussion on Vote on Accounts slated to be held in February 2015, added the source.

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