Posers on paddy land
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 03 2023: Congress MLA K Ranjit has questioned as to why schools are not given relaxation from Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act 2014 while petrol pumps and LPG godowns are allowed to be established on paddy lands on the pretext of 'public purpose' .

Responding to the query on behalf of the Agriculture Minister who was not present in the House, Chief Minister N Biren stated on the floor of the House today that the mushrooming of large number of schools on paddy fields at different places might have prompted the authorities to deny permission for setting up schools on paddy fields but if there is a reasonable case, the requisite permission may be granted.

From 2017 till January 2023, 3017 cases were taken up under the Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act 2014 in connection with reclamation of agricultural lands for other purposes.

There were instances of relaxing the Act for construction of petrol pump, LPG godown, multi-storeyed residential complex, residential shopping malls and other infrastructure for public purposes, the Chief Minister said.

To the Chief Minister's statement that there are 2,28,520 hectares of agricultural land in the State including 1,07,630 hectares in the hills and 1,20,890 hectares in the valley, K Ranjit asked whether the total area of 2,28,520 hectares is net agricultural land or gross agricultural land.

Biren said that an official reply would be sent soon.

Of the 3017 cases registered for reclamation of paddy land, 303 are in Imphal, 1980 in Imphal West, 299 in Thoubal, 203 in Bishnupur, 201 in Kakching and 31 in Jiribam.

In some of these cases, trucks and excavators (JCB) were impounded for digging paddy lands, Biren said.

Pointing out that the State agricultural lands have been shrinking day by day, K Ranjit proposed a fresh survey in order to establish the accurate figure of the State's total agricultural lands.

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