Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday said that to preserve agricultural land and as preventive measures, the government served a total of over 2,484 show-cause notices for illegal construction on paddy land and over 160 vehicles were seized along with construction materials.
Biren, who is also in charge of revenue, was responding to a motion for disapproval of policy cut raised by Opposition MLA K Ranjit Singh on Wednesday in the 3rd session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly.
Ranjit Singh raised the motion for disapproval of policy cut during ‘discussion and voting on demands for grants in Land Revenue, Stamps and Registration and District Administration on account of inability to preserve agricultural lands.
Clarifying the disapproval of policy cut motion, Biren, who is also leader of the House, said Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act 2014 was formed in order to conserve the paddy land and wetland and to restrict the conversion or reclamation thereof in order to promote growth in the agricultural sector in Manipur.
However, due to improper implementation in the field the government found many cases of constructing illegal structures in paddy fields which leads to decreasing in paddy fields.
He said, in the entire geographical area of the state, there is approximately 8 per cent of paddy land. The government formed the Act to conserve the paddy land, he added.
In continuation of necessary steps taken under the Act, the government has seized a number of vehicles, and served many show cause notices to over 2,484 in the last few years, he added.
He said to conserve the paddy lands of Manipur support is needed from the MLAs and public as the concerned department might not be able to save paddy lands.
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