Minister Shyam launches web for paddy land data bank

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, August 18, 2018 (DIPR): Revenue Minister Karam Shyam launches website for implementation of Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land & Wetland Act, 2014 today at his office chamber at Old Secretariat that depicts baseline data (satellite image of September 2014 with cadastral data). The website contains Data Bank with details of the paddy land along with survey numbers with the help of the map prepared on the basis of satellite pictures.

The website was prepared by Manipur Remote Sensing Applications Centre (MARSAC), Department of Science & Technology (DST) for Revenue Department,  Government of Manipur with assistance from ISRO.

Revenue Secretary T Ranjit, Deputy Secretary Y Rajen and MARSAC officials were present during the launching function.

Briefing media persons, Minister Karam Shyam stated that the paddyland databank will prove a key solution for those homeless people who are genuinely in need of land to construct houses and at the same time, also curb the menace of illegal activities and construction by the public against law and without prior permission of the Government, hence killing two birds with one stone.

He also appealed the public to extend full co-operation as all the steps and activities taken up by the Government are solely in the interest of the public and their welfare.

There was ban on class change and implementation of the Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land & Wetland Act, 2014 without a proper paddy land data bank, he added. Steps are in the pipeline to lift the ban by discussing the issue in the Cabinet, he assured.

A presentation was also given by a MARSAC official that highlights the benefits of superimposing baseline satellite images with cadastral data in monitoring the agriculture/wetland areas for every season whether conversion or reclamation of paddy land/wetland is violated or not.

Pointing out the norms under Section 20 of Manipur Land Revenue & Land Reforms Act 1960, Y Rajen said that if any person holding land is granted permission to divert such land or part of it by the competent authority, such persons shall pay fee to the State Government @ Rs.25/-per sq. m in case of diversion agricultural land for non-residential purposes. “In case of diversion of agricultural land for non-residential purpose, the fee is Rs. 100/-per sq. m”, he added.

The paddy land & wet land databank will help in checking illegal encroachment and wrong use of paddy land for commercial purposes, he said.

It may be mentioned that the Manipur Conservation of Paddy land and Wet land Act 2014 was enacted with primary objective to conserve the paddy land and wetland and to restrict the conversion or reclamation in order to promote growth of agricultural sector in the state of Manipur. The Act came into force from 10 Sept 2014.