Manipur Chief Minister N BIren on Friday said that there are 2,28,520 hectares of arable land under paddy cultivation in the state of which 1,07,630 hectares are in the hills and 1,20,890 hectares in the valley.
On the last day of the ensuing third session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly, CM Biren, who is also leader of the House, said that from 2017 to January 2023, 3,017 cases have been registered under Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act for violation.
Under the act, petrol pumps and LPG godowns were relaxed for public purpose and in January 2019, multi storey complex and commercial shopping malls were also relaxed for public purpose. Again, in November 2029 private hospitals were relaxed for public purposes, he said.
He was responding to MLA K Ranjit starred questions and in a supplementary question regarding mushrooming of private schools, the chief minister said that, if necessary, it will also be relaxed.
Replying to a question raised by MLA Paolienlal Haokip, the chief minister said that a district boundary commission headed by Justice Mutum Binoykumar was constituted for recognition and delimitation of the disputed boundaries of the administrative district on October 4, 2017.
The CM also said that 18,500.6 acres of poppy plantations have been destroyed since the inception of ‘War on Drugs’ campaign and added that the government will extend all possible assistance to poppy planters on humanitarian ground even if there is no definite plan to provide livelihood means for them.
Replying to a question raised by MLA Th Lokeshwar Singh, Fisheries minister H Dingo said that fish pond scheme is available under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and that fish farmers belonging to SC/ST/ Women will receive 60 percent subsidy whereas the subsidy will be 40 percent for general category.
Replying to a question raised by MLA Surjakumar Okram, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Y Khemchand informed that there is pending amount yet to be cleared under MGNREGS. For the financial year 2021-22, there is Rs 32,221.93 lakhs due and for 2022-23 there is 13,998.56 lakhs due amount in total 46220.49 lakhs are due amount.
The expected amount receivable under MGNREGS for 100 days for the year 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 are 1301.86 crores, 1398.07 Crores and 1498.47 crores respectively, he added.
