Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 17 2009:
Saying that the Chingarel agricultural field is the principal source of livelihood for more than 30,000 people, the North Imphal United Clubs and Meira Paibees' Organisation has decried the Government's plan to acquire a large portion from the same agricultural land.
In a press release, NIUCAMO noted that out of Manipur's total geographical area of 22,327 sq kms, hills constitute 20,089 sq kms while the valley constitutes 2,238 sq kms.
Of this tiny valley area, the arable land is only 1450 sq kms.
This is exclusive of about 50,000 paris of agricultural land submerged by the Loktak Project.
And now, the existing agricultural land is fast shrinking due to construction schools/colleges, brick fields and in the name industrial units.
Asserting that the Manipur Legislative Assembly reportedly resolved not to infringe upon agricultural land on March 21, 2005, NIUCAMO questioned whether the SPF Government was bluffing the House, apparently referring to the new initiative to set up industrial growth centre over agricultural land at Chingarel.