New policy on land use finds strong opposition in Tamenglong
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Daniel Kamei

Tamenglong, July 01 2014: C Arthur W, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong on Tuesday organised a district level consultative meeting on the proposed introduction of the new scheme called "New Land Use Policy" in Manipur.

During the meeting, which was attended by representatives from various frontal organisations like Zeliangrong Baudi, Zeliangrong Youth Front, Zeliangrong Students Union, Village Authority, Zeliangrong Pui Baudi and district level officers, K.Moses Chalai, IAS, Commissioner (Co-operation) and Dr.Lokho Puni, IFS, Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Planning Department) spoke at length on the various features of the new policy to be implemented in Manipur soon.

Dr.Dr.Lokho said that the main feature of the proposed new land use policy is to bring 63% geographical area (66.6% in the hills and 33.4% in the valley) under good and undisturbed forest cover to check further soil erosion and climate change, conserve water and aid biodiversity conservation including wild animals and address other environment related issues.

Protection and preservation of the forest will have to be made possible through empowerment of the communities, he said.

Dr.Lokho further pointed out that the new project will also cover 15% of the geographical area in the state under joint forest management (JFM) to meet local requirement of fuel, wood, fodder, small timber and NTFPS, 15% of the geographical area under agriculture and related activities for livelihood and economy and 7% of the land earmarked for habitation, industries, roads and other development activities.

The proposed NLUP shall be taken up aiming at rehabilitation of Jhum cultivators and non Jhum cultivators who are today beginning to face serious problems in a number of ways, to improve the productive potential of the land, manage natural resources and increase income of rural inhabitants through socially inclusive, institutionally and environmentally sustainable approaches, he said.

NLUP will be implemented by the communities/ villagers with the support and guidance of concerned departments such as agriculture, Horticulture & Soil conservation, sericulture, fishery, Veterinary & Animal Husbandry, works, forest, industry, cooperation and Minor irrigation, Dr Lokho explained, and added that the goal is to target activities that provide common facilities at community level.

Meanwhile, Zeliangrong bodies have strongly opposed to the proposed New Land Use Policy.

Submitting a joint memorandum, Zeliangrong bodies said that they object to any direct/indirect extension of the provision of the Manipur Land Revenue & Land Reform Act, 1960 to Manipur Hills including Tamenglong district.

The memorandum contended that setting up VDC is clearly biased and is against the existing village authority system and so it must be quashed immediately.

Introduction of New Land Use Policy Manipur 2014 is with mala fide intention.

The memorandums further alleged that the Notification No.2/62/2013-leg/L/(iv) dated 03/03/2014 issued by Secretariat: Law and Legislative Affairs Department, Constituting revenue Tribunal, Manipur with jurisdiction covering Tamenglong district is not acceptable as it was in utter disrespect to the democratic process, The joint memo was signed by Thomas Kamei, President ZB (M); Athanbou Pamei, president VACC Tamenglong, David Kamei, general secretary of ZYF(AMN); Ringthening Newmai, Chairman VACC Tousem; Joseph Riamei Coordinator ZSUTD; Kagangai, Chairman ZYF Tamenglong zone and Asinliu Riamei president ZBP (M) .

The Zeliangrong Union (AMN) also submitted another memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, Tamenglong objecting the proposed introduction of New Land Use Policy in Manipur hill districts including Tamenglong.

The memorandum signed by Amu Kamei, President ZU (AMN), maintained that the khunbu/Khullakpa/chief/ land owners being sidelined and excluded from the VDC and concept of the NLUPM 2014 itself is devoid of wisdom and will not be practicable at all.

In framing VDC and NLUPM 2014, the importance of the landowners who are Khunbu/Khullakpa/chiefs of the village authorities system has been overlooked, it charged, while adding that the Zeliangrong Union does not endorse either the Village Development Committee (VDC) or the proposed new land use policy (NLUP) of Manipur 2014 .

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