The farming community of Lamlai area in Manipur’s Imphal East district has threatened to launch mass agitation if the government fails to listen to their demands.
The demands include normal functioning of the government offices under Sawombung divisional block immediately, enhancement of ration quota of rice at 15 kg per month per member of the drought affected family,compensation of Rs 5000 per sangam(one fourth of a hectare), land owners must not demand rent for real drought affected fields etc.
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This was announced by general secretary Telem Dara Singh of Thoubal Multi-purpose project neglected area agricultural development organization (TMPNADO), an apex body of 62 villages while speaking to reporters in Imphal on Wednesday.
Dara also informed that a general body meeting of the organization held on October 20 at Chalou community hall at Lamlai has taken the above demands as their resolutions.
The meeting also unanimously resolved that if the survey report on drought submitted by a committee constituted by the government of Manipur under the chairmanship of chief engineer H Brajendra Singh with TMPNADO was not addressed, then mass agitation will be initiated, the secretary said.
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He also informed that the paddy cultivation across 12,140 hectares of paddy fields under Lamlai area had been badly affected due to drought this year despite having the potential of providing irrigation facilities.
It is said that there are around 32 springs in and area. But no steps have been taken up to construct check dams or other water shed management steps, he claimed.
The farmers also so far identified 60 places for making bore well in the Lamlai areas.
On August 28 this year, TMPNADO had a meeting with the state chief minister in presence of the Lamlai MLA Ksh Biren wherein the chief minister reportedly agreed to fulfill their demands of irrigation facilities.
A central team also inspected the drought situation of the area on October 14.
But so far no intervention has been taken up by the state government authority so far, he alleged.
Such kind ill treatment to the people of Lamlai areas will invite public protest at any moment, he warned.
Many members of the TMPNADO were also present during the day’s press conference.