Imphal, July 10 2009: The manipur assembly today failed to support yet another private member resolution on "The Manipur Conservation of the Paddy and Wetland Act" moved by senior MPP leader Okram Joy.

Moving the private member resolution, MLA Joy drew the attention of the leader of the House saying that the size of cultivable land in Manipur has been diminishing day by day.

A number of lakes has also disappeared.

This has created a lot of negative changes in the ecology.

Observing that diminishing of arable land in Manipur has also badly affected food security, O Joy said it is time the matter was considered seriously.

He said, the resolution is being moved in the House so that the cultivable land of Manipur would be preserved and protected under this Act even though development projects are taken up.

MLA Joy informed the House that the state of Kerala has passed an Act to preserve and protect all cultivable lands.

The Act has come into effect with setting up of state level, district level and village level committees.

"For us, we do not have even a law to protect and preserve our cultivable lands," the senior Member said and appealed to the House to consider passing an Act in this regard.

Supporting the private member resolution moved by O Joy, MLA Dr Ng Bijoy of MPP said, it would be right to have an Act to save cultivable land in Manipur from diminishing.

He also gave a few examples of cultivable land disappearing in other parts of the country as well.

Replying to the points made by the MPP MLAs, Revenue Minister Th Devendra said, protection and preservation of cultivable land in Manipur is for the sake of future and posterity.

It is good, he said and added, but the matter has been discussed in the House for the umpteenth time in the past.

Land Use Board had been set up and funds had been allocated.

However, the Board has ceased functioning and the fund allocation had also been discontinued, the Revenue Minister said.

It is okay to discuss whether to revive the Land Use Board or something, Minister Devendra pointed out and made a dig at the Opposition Member saying that "O Joy is well conversant about the issue but we are not." Therefore, it'd be right to further study the matter.

It'll not be right to do in haste, he said.

Apparently sore over the Minister's reply, O Joy stood up and remarked, the Minister's reply sounds like the reply of an old officer's head.

He suggested that the Minister worked with his own concept.

The House may pass or may not pass the resolution.

"Shall we give away all our land to the national level authorities," he asked.

A number of tribal and non-Manipuris have been setlling in the valley areas.

What kind of mechanism is this? Can the Land Use Board make a diversion in this issue, Joy asked.

At that time, Chief Minister O Ibobi rose and said, construction of schools, brick fields, etc.

has been going on the cultivable fields.

It is being discussed how to protect the paddy fields.

The Land Use Board may also be revived.

Let's study and discuss the matter and not do it in a hurry, the Chief Minister said.

O Joy again said, development projects can be taken up even in the cultivable fields after consulting with all concerned from the village to state level.

However, a law is necessary.

It is okay with him if it comes from the government, Joy said and withdrew his private member resolution.

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