New village recognition law soon: CM N Biren
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 03 2022: Chief minister N Biren Singh has informed the state assembly that the government has started discussion on disallowing recognition of villages having less than 50 households and this law will come into effect very soon.

While informing that there are 2,743 revenue villages in Manipur, the Leader of the House also appealed to bureaucrats not to work beyond their jurisdiction but strictly implement rule of law while giving recognition to new revenue villages.

Replying to a query raised by Opposition member K Ranjit during the question and hour session on the 9th day of the assembly on Wednesday, CM Biren said that the revenue department received 55 applications seeking village recognition.

Among the applications include 26 from Tamenglong district, Churachandpur (11), Saikul (six), Kamjong (two) and 10 from Tengnoupal.

He also said that criteria for village recognition are land, number of households, approval from forest department and district council.

Apart from these villages seeking recognition, there are 1039 new villages waiting to seek recognition but government considers it seriously and will not succumb to political pressure or influence in this matter, he said, adding that the government is taking up the step for the sake of future generation.

To a query raised by Opposition member Surjakumar Okram on oil palm plantation in the state, agriculture minister Th Biswajit said that assessment for impact of oil plantation on environment is yet to be conducted and Jiribam district does not figure in the list of districts selected by the Government of India for oil palm plantation in Manipur.

In his supplementary question, Surjakumar said that oil palm is a mono culture plant and no other plants could grow in the area where oil palm is planted and one oil palm plant consumes 300 litres of water daily.

Accordingly, the UN gave directive to conduct environment assessment and social impact before taking up mass oil palm plantation, he pointed out, and questioned as to why the state government included Jiribam when the district did not figure in the list of districts selected by the Union ministry for oil palm plantation.

He then drew attention of the House for conducting the necessary environmental and social impact assessment before taking up oil palm plantation in Manipur.

In his reply, agriculture minister Biswajit said that oil palm is being used in the country for the last 135 years and there has been no negative impact of oil palm plantation in the country and accordingly environment and social impact assessment was not considered seriously.

Nevertheless, workshops had been held with experts on oil palm plantation, he said, adding that oil palm plantation in most of Asian and other countries are handed over to private companies but private companies will be handed only the processing stage in Manipur.

He also informed the House that around 66,654 hectares of land have been identified for oil palm plantation in Manipur and Jiribam district was included as the district already successfully grows oil palm family plants like betel nut and coconut.

To a query raised by MLA Ram Muivah regarding Ramrei Water Supply Scheme, PHE minister L Susindro Meetei said that the Scheme is yet to be made functional and pipeline repairing is continuing to make functional the water supply scheme.

Susindro also said that Ramrei Water Supply Scheme is being developed under the NEC funding at a total cost of 14.95 crore since 2018 and the scheme targets to provide water to 13,537 households.

He then assured the House of making the scheme functional within one month.

On a query raised by Ram Muivah regarding Ukhrul Town hall, TA and Hills minister Letpao Haokip said that the existing Ukhrul Town hall is an old one but a proposal has been sent by the district administration for developing the hall into a mini auditorium under PMJVK scheme.

Social welfare minister H Dingo, while replying to a question raised by MLA Kh Joykisan, informed that there are 11,510 Anganwadi centres in Manipur and 9958 of them are main AWC and the remaining 1552 AWC.

Mentioning criteria for establishing Anganwadi centre, the minister said that one Anganwadi centre should have 400-800 population for urban/rural area and 150-400 population for mini Anganwadi centre.

For tribal and hilly difficult areas, one Anganwadi centre should have 300-800 population and 150-300 population for mini Anganwadi centre, he elaborated.

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