Poppy growers deserve stringent punishment: Biswajit
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 02 2023: The state government has been providing alternative means of livelihood to poppy growers by taking up different projects but all these seem to be of no use as poppy cultivation continues.

And hence, the poppy growers should be given stringent punishment rather than giving them alternative livelihood, stated forest and environment minister Th Biswajit.

Replying to the question raised by MLA Paolienlal Haokip regarding afforestation programme in the barren hills during Thursday's sitting of the ongoing assembly session, minister Biswajit said that the forest department is taking up afforestation programmes in degraded forest lands including the barren lands affected by the poppy plantations.

A project proposal named 'Alternate livelihood for poppy farmers with permanent (terrace) cultivation on Jhum lands through integrated approach in the hill districts of Manipur' has been submitted by state horticulture & soil conservation department to the DoNER ministry.

The programme includes plantation of high value crops/fruits in over 10,000 acres of poppy affected areas as an alternative livelihood for poppy farmers but it is not specific for barren areas affected by poppy plantation.

As part of afforestation programme, the forest department has taken up plantation drive in 142 acres left barren by poppy plantation, he added.

According to minister Th Biswajit, the state government is considering to procure fund from bamboo mission for afforestation programme by setting up a committee and appointing advisor as bamboo grows very fast and develops even if cut off.

Though there is no specific programme for bamboo plantation in areas affected by poppy plantation, a private consultation firm namely PWC has prepared a data for bamboo plantation in 16 districts of the state by procuring fund from DoNER, he added.

Minister Th Biswajit further said that government has been providing alternative means of livelihood to poppy growers so that poppy plantation could be stopped and to bring the poppy growers to the mainstream.

However, some people infatuated with earning easy money continue to plant poppy and create problem, he said and drew attention of the House to award stringent punishment to poppy growers rather than giving them alternative means of livelihood.

He also informed that House that government has so far destroyed poppy plantation in 1077.7 hectares of land in the hills.

To another question raised by Opposition MLA K Ranjit regarding solar power plant, minister Th Biswajit, who also holds the portfolio of power, said that MAN1REDA is preparing to install two 50-watt capacity each solar power plants at T Khullen village and Lambei village in Kangpokpi district having potential to generate 60-70 megawatt of power.

He also informed that House that DPR for an 800 MW grid connected solar plant has been completed and proposed to NESIDS.

Apart from this, government is planning to take up hybrid power plants at Chawangkining village in Senapati district and Phangrei village in Ukhrul district.

To another question by K Ranjit on urea distribution, minister Th Biswajit, who is also in charge of agriculture portfolio, informed that state's urea quota for the year 2020-21 was 30,000 metric tonnes but received only 20993.09 metric tonne.

In the year 2022 too, the state received only 21,104.06 metric tonnes, out of the entitled 27,000 metric tonnes.

For Kharif season of the year 2022-23, state's entitled urea quota was 22,000 metric tonnes but could procure only 18,055.25 metric tonne of which 15956.91 metric tonnes was procured by the department and the rest 2098.38 metric tonnes by dealers.

For Rabi season of the year 2022-23, state's entitled urea quota was 10,400 out of which 8405.24 metric tonne has been procured by the department and company's dealers so far.

He also informed the House that 3150 metric tonnes of urea is currently in stock in the department's warehouses and 2743.56 metric tonnes in warehouses of company's dealers thus totalling 5893.56 metric tonnes (1,30,968 bags) in stock at present.

He further said that the government is preparing to launch a software to prevent problem in urea distribution and to provide urea to farmers in time and adequately.

Responding to a the question raised by MLA K Meghachandra Singh, education minister Th Basanta Kumar Singh said that the government has provisions for employment of deserving meritorious sportspersons in class III and IV posts not exceeding 5 percent of the total vacancies as per the department's notification and has been implementing the same.

On another question raised by MLA Th Lokeshwar, horticulture and soil conservation minister Letpao Haokip said that under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), vegetables seeds and spices seeds are provided to people as an alternative to poppy cultivation in hill areas.

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