Imphal, July 30 2010: A private member resolution moved by the Opposition to formulate a uniform land law, both in the hills as well as the valley areas, was withdrawn after the House deliberated upon it and recognised its spirit and took note of its content.

The resolution was moved by MPP MLAs, O Joy, Dr Ng Bijoy, RK Anand and Dr I Ibohalbi.

Moving the resolution in the House, the concluding day of the Monsoon Assembly today, MPP legislature wing leader O Joy pointed out certain 'flaws' in the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act of 1960, whereby people from the valley are not allowed to buy land in the hills.

This has greatly inconvenienced the valley dwellers, the Meiteis in particularly, Joy said.

Referring to the Constitution of India, the MPP leader said that under Article 19 (2) of the general law, all Indian citizens are free to settle wherever they want within the country.

However Section 159 of the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act of 1960 has made this redundant, thereby forfeiting the rights of the Meiteis to settle in the hills, explained Joy.

"Under no circumstances, will I stand by silently, and watch the decimation of our people while under the jurisdiction of the Constitution of India," asserted the veteran political leader.

Out of the 22,327 square kilometres the Manipur occupies, the valley areas constitute only two thousand square kilometres while the rest come under the hill districts, he added.

Going into details, the MPP leader said that the population ratio in Imphal East is 557 per square Kms while in Imphal West it is 800 people per square Kms.

In Bishnupur the figure stands at 419 per square Kms and in Thoubal the figure reads as 708 persons per square Kms.

Giving a comparative account, O Joy said that the number of people per square Km in Senapati district is 87, 15 in Tamenglong, 50 in Churachandpur, 36 in Chandel and 31 in Ukhrul.

Asserting that the valley areas are over crowded today with many hill people settling in Imphal as well as the influx of outsiders, Joy said that if something positive is not done, then the future generations will be reduced to the status of refugees.

Referring to the exclusive claims of certain groups of people over a tract of land or area, Joy said that it is an unhealthy trend when some community say that the land belongs to them exclusively and hence Meiteis cannot settle.

No community can claim exclusive ownership of any land in Manipur, he said and added that the Act in the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act of 1960, which forbids the Meiteis from owning land in the hill areas is not at all reasonable and should be confined to the dustbin of history.

Joining the debate, rather discussion, RK Anand observed that it is time to formulate a new land reforms Act so that the notion of Manipur belonging to all spreads and takes root.

If the present trend continues, with the Meiteis prohibited from settling in the hills continues, it will give rise to many complicated issues, he warned.

Supporting the spirit of the resolution, I Hemochandra of the Congress and N Mangi of the CPI said that it is time to draw up an Act that is suitable to the demands of the time.

Land Revenue Minister Th Debendra urged all not encourage the idea of erecting barriers amongst the different communities settled in Manipur.

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